The transition from school to pre-university

The transition from school to pre-university college (PUC) is never smooth for students as they miss many things they were familiar with in school. At the same time, PUC is a crucial stage for students as the subjects they select broadly decides their career path.

While it may be difficult to adjust initially, one's journey through PUC can be made enjoyable. Here are some areas that parents and teachers can help in to ensure a smooth sailing for students:

Adolescence: The rapid physical changes that students experience can often make them conscious of their appearance. In the absence of accurate information and proper guidance from parents and teachers, students discuss about these changes in hushed tones and often end up being ill-informed. As a result, at times the student's academic performance may get affected. Hence, having a well-structured adolescence education
programme in school can help alleviate the problem and give students the right information.

Distractions: Students often find themselves easily distracted by social media, web browsing and long chats over mobile phones. Hence, it is important that they regulate their time online so that it does not affect their study time. If the students are aware of the pros and cons, they can be responsible users of electronic gadgets.

Peer group influence: Friends matter the most for youngsters. Friends can have both positive and negative influence. The negative influences can be worrisome for parents as students can pick on habits that can harm them. The only way to enable students to avoid developing such habits is by teaching them assertive skills. They should be able to decide what is good and what is bad for them and be able to say 'no' when they feel so.

Difficulty level: Some students may find the course material a bit more difficult than expected. However, teachers often presume that students can cope with the difficulty. But often, it is found that many struggle to comprehend the nuances of certain subjects. Hence, to enable students to perform better, teachers can orient them on the nature of the subject and how they should go about studying it.

Quality of colleges: The academic ambience of a college matters the most for a student. With various additional programmes such as coaching for competitive exams being offered alongside the course, students often become confused as to what to choose. However, it must be kept in mind that it is not necessary to enrol in these classes. So, instead, take a look at other features such as infrastructure, available courses, class size and teaching quality.

Career choice: This is the right time to choose one's career. The choice of the appropriate stream leads to the desired career. Students should consider their interest and aptitude before deciding a stream. They should not choose a stream just because their friends have chosen it. The students can seek the help of a career counsellor in this regard.

Study plan: Effective study habits, time management and concentration are some of the crucial areas our students need to be aware of. But unfortunately, these topics are not covered in schools. It is taken for granted that these areas are taken care of by the students themselves.

Counselling: Many rush to a doctor at slightest physical discomfort. But our students or their parents do not approach a counsellor for any issues or concerns that may affect their academics. It is in fact
during their pre-university days that students are greatly stressed and need the services of a counsellor. A counsellor is someone who offers guidance on academic and personal matters. They also act as a critical support for a student's learning and any social-emotional concerns that he or she may have. The proactive counselling involves different areas such as preventive, remedial, adjustive, developmental, educational, occupational information and crisis management.

Extracurricular activities: Apart from studying, PUC students need to also engage themselves in pursuing activities that stimulate their mind and body. This can include being a part of a sports team or a subject-related club in the college. However, it is important that the students strike a balance between studies and extracurricular activities.

With the right support and guidance through this stage, students can graduate from PUC with flying colours.