ABSTRACT
Many students aged 18 and 19, when they go to college, will be leaving home for the fi rst time. This can be exciting and challenging, but the start of a new life inevitably has its complexities. Similarly, mature students, maybe newly assessed as dyslexic, will now be undertaking a much more complicated life style, for instance they may be commuting into college on top of running a home and family. There may even be some doubts and misunderstandings to cope with from family and friends. In our experience, if it is possible for students to develop some habits of planning and organisation (don’t groan!), the early months at college can be much easier. It is, of course, a bonus if you can start on this before you go to college; but it is never too late to learn, even if you are part way through your course. We begin with a comment about attitude: think positive. We have given some of our students a poster with the following words:
This chapter gives very practical advice to students getting ready to start college. You will possibly be leaving home for the fi rst time, and leaving behind sources of support you were hardly aware were there. Find out here what you can do to prepare for independent life.
