Program to help ease transition for college freshmen
The transition from high school to college is often difficult, so Hilbert College has started a new program this year to help freshman students prepare for the change and succeed. Our Kaitlyn Lionti tells us about the Summer Bridge Program and how the school hopes it will help students make the most of their education.
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HAMBURG, N.Y. -- Connor Kolb is aiming for success and about to start his freshman year at Hilbert College.
Even though classes don't begin for a couple more weeks, he and a group of other freshmen are already on campus, hitting the books.
"The whole plan is to hopefully help students become comfortable in the college setting so that they're used to the campus, they have a group of friends already, so when school starts, not only are they comfortable with the people around them but they've also gotten kind of a refresher on Math and English and some of those subjects," said Jim Sturm, Vice Provost for Leadership Development at Hilbert College.
It's called the Summer Bridge Program. For two weeks, the students live on campus, attend mini-courses, and participate in various activities-all designed to help ease the transition from high school to college.
"It's going to help prepare me for this fall semester so I'm not just going into it coming off of summer break, and oh man, I've got to go back to school," said Kolb.
Students are selected for the program based on placement tests and other factors.
"A lot of times there's student who may not have lived up to their potential in high school. We try to take students who might need that little bit of extra push. This is an opportunity for them to hopefully really move their grades up and improve from their high school performance," said Sturm.
The goal is for students to feel confident they can succeed during the rest of their time at school.
"A lot of students never make it past that freshman year and this is really geared to help them make it through freshman year and give them a support system. Not only from us, the faculty and staff, but also from the group that they're with," said Sturm.
Kolb says he knows college means a whole new set of responsibilities, but he's looking forward to getting started."It's all part of growing up," he said.