Building on our former experience developing a ‘Transition to University’ programme at KICS we were keen to offer support to our RS-Ed high school graduates. This area is often overlooked by high schools who tend to see their main purpose as ending once final exams are over. As College Counsellors however, we measure our success beyond school-leaving results, and hope to direct our students towards career satisfaction and generally happy lives! So, facilitating the transition from school to university is a vital part of our role.
Making the leap from high school to university is one of the biggest life transitions for many students. Newfound freedoms come with new responsibilities—and it can be both exciting and overwhelming. Our Uni-Ready sessions walked students through some key insights and practical tips to help navigate this transition smoothly and confidently.
With the help of presentations, short films, quizzes and interactive activities, we piloted 2 x 90 minute sessions with our graduating students. The first session concentrated on practical advice and the second looked at the socio-emotional challenges that might be faced when making that crucial move from school to university.
In order to prepare, we started out with a brainstorming session, in which we divided up different areas each would present and discussed ways to ensure interactivity.
We sent a letter to parents, outlining our sessions and to ensure they were aware of the inclusion of some topics of a sensitive nature. Students were then contacted to ask if they had any specific matters they would like addressed. They were also told that they could ask questions confidentially and anonymously..
We also agreed that we would we implement some ‘rules of engagement’ at the start of each session including:
- This is a Safe Space
- Right to Pass
- No Names
- Respect
- Confidentiality
- Ask any questions
First Session
- Practical Advice for University Transition: From Visas to Campus Life
- Day-to-Day Skills: From Meal Prep to Mock Budgeting
- Avoiding Trouble and Communicating Well: From Peer Pressure to Substance Abuse
We began the session with two simple ice breakers, asking students to tell us one word they think about when they think about university. This helped bring some bonding to the group as students realised they are not alone in feeling, ‘nervous’, ‘anxious’, excited’….
We played a light hearted video on the differences between high school and university and more seriously discussed some of those differences and what to expect. This included a discussion on the importance of self-management at university and the fact that students need to rely on themselves for academic, social, emotional and mental success. The session continued with practical advice and examples, including how to choose (catered/not catered) and furnish student accommodation, cost of living (location makes a difference!), budgeting, meal prep, courteous communication, and understanding what substance abuse is. Students continued to be encouraged to engage and ask questions.
Second Session
- Leaving Well, New Friends and Settling In
- Culture, Culture Shocks and Open-Mindedness
- Depression, Mental, Emotional and Physical Well-Being
- Political Correctness and Avoiding Giving Offence
The second session started off like the first one, reminding students of our rules of engagement. The aim of this session was to empower students with the knowledge and tools to support the emotional and social transition they will be embarking on. We asked them to begin by going to their first choice university website and see what club/society they think they would like to join. We then moved on to understanding how we can leave home well, meet new friends and settle at university in a positive way.
For all students, there is a sense of culture shock when one leaves home, and for international students in particular, there is an additional layer to this. We dedicated time therefore to understanding what culture shock is and its prevalence. . We emphasised that students are not alone and outlined several proactive steps they can take to mitigate the initial feelings of possible isolation and uncertainty. These included introducing oneself to neighbours, creating a WhatsApp group with flatmates and/or signing up for events during fresher’s week.
Being able to identify signs of depression and/or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) was shared with students, as well as the sensitive topic of suicide. The focus was that universities offer student support and are skilled in working with new students experiences these very challenges. So it is important that new students are aware of these resources and utilise them if needed.
Understanding their rights on campus and going through what consent is and how it is defined in university bylaws was another part of this session, as well understanding the changing political climate on campuses today and how to navigate it with sensitivity.
We finished the session with a quiz on ‘How Woke Are You?’, for students to gauge how much they understood about the prevailing political and cultural environment.
At the end of each session, an information sheet with useful links and guidance was sent out to parents and students
We sent out a survey to students and received very positive feedback and some good suggestions for next year. They all appreciated the practical advice session and overall felt more confident about their upcoming transition to campus life. They also appreciated the interactivity, the political correctness section and the focus on mental and emotional well being.
“I found the sessions on practical advice (VISAs, transitions week etc.) to be very helpful.”
“Certainly emotional and mental well-being is such a large topic that I don’t think one session is enough to cover it. Managing stress and anxiety has become a huge issue in society and there are so many different causes as well as techniques to deal with it that I think another session on that topic would be beneficial.”
“I really appreciated the opportunity to share our insights with everyone in the Zoom call…, it helped me connect more deeply with others through our shared experiences.”
“ the workshops give me an opportunity to reflect and because of that were quite therapeutic. I also enjoy the fact that there are other students who are in the same boat as me attending the workshop although there are not too many students so it’s still more personal.”
“It was nice to see empathy and political correctness being taught to know these are issues thought of in university.”
Some great suggestions included asking current university students to share their advice in the workshop, and allowing more time in general for discussion. So maybe we need to increase to 2 x 2 hour sessions!
Combined with healthy daily habits, these tools can empower students to thrive—not just survive—throughout their university years. Transitioning to university life can be challenging, but with the right tools and mindset, it’s also an incredible opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Remember: small steps and smart habits will go a long way!
This blog was a joint effort by all three organisers of the sessions, Reem, Samia and Leena
