Winds of Change - College 2016 - 17

Get Ready to SUCCEED LEARNING TO LEARN AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL BY SUSAN BIEMESDERFER pplying to college and preparing to succeed once you get there can be daunting prospects, but there's plenty you can do to smooth the process. "It can be a bit overwhelming, especially for first-generation college students," says Abena Songbird, Abenaki, who works with underrepresented students as a program assistant II for the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. "There's no magical formula to follow, but there are definitely things students can do to get ready for college, to make the transition more manageable, and to stay on track for graduation." Songbird, who serves as advisor for the SD Mines College Chapter, is one of the many experts who urge aspiring undergraduates to look at college with a broad lens, paying attention to three crucial factors: what you can do to prepare yourself before you get there, what can help you make a strong start once you're there, and what habits will serve you in the long run throughout your undergraduate years. ISTOCK (3) Before You Get There aises.org Prepare to arrive on campus ready to work. "College classes are rigorous, especially in subjects like science and math," says Songbird. "The students who are the most prepared have already had some sort of advanced classes - perhaps calculus, trigonometry, or algebra." Songbird tells future STEM majors that it's a good idea to take college prep courses in math and science if at all possible. Or if you attend a tribal or community college before transferring to a four-year institution, be sure to establish a strong grounding in science and math. In addition to academic preparation, there's also practical preparation required. "It's critical to understand the systems of college," says Isaac Deragon, American Indian Success Program coordinator at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Deragon, Bad River Ojibwe, encourages students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time so that there's no unexpected shortage of funds down the line. "You want to know exactly what you qualify for in terms of federal grants, work study, and loans," he explains. "And be sure to calculate the full cost of attendance realistically - including what it costs to live on or near campus, transportation, food, books, everything. Too often, I've seen students get sidetracked because they're working one or two jobs to keep up." Both Songbird and Deragon say it's a good idea to research and pursue every possible scholarship lead. "Second to academics, the biggest struggles of underrepresented students have to do with finances," explains Songbird. "So it's really important to understand the full spectrum of aid that may be available to you, and to focus on that before you get to college and take on your course load." Research online as well as close to home, including smaller awards that may be available from your tribe, schools, local businesses, even churches. Even the smallest awards can add up and be a big help. Once You're There So it's finally happening: You're on your college campus. Now what? Navigate. You have to learn your way around, quite literally. Be sure you take advantage of orientation programs for new students, including those offered to underrepresented students. "There's a lot to take in and process once you first get to college, and it's easy to get distracted," says Songbird. That's why she and her colleagues run a pre-orientation program that arranges for new Native American students to arrive on campus early their first year. "With a program like this, right out of the gate students are meeting other Native students, and often they end up becoming friends or study partners up until they graduate. We make sure they learn where everything is, including classrooms, the library, the bookstore, where they can eat, and where to go for resources like health services." Then of course there's that key step: registration. Ask counselors or advisors for help if you're not sure what classes » 2016-2017 SPECIAL COLLEGE ISSUE * WINDS OF CHANGE 17 http://www.aises.org

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