Senior Year at UPCS: Smoothing the Transition to College

In speaking with UPCS graduates, the oldest of whom are now seniors in college, we learned that although they had the academic skills they needed to be successful in college, they often struggled to adapt to the structure and freedoms of college. For example, they struggled at keeping up with large amounts of reading or studying for mid-term and final exams. They often did not feel comfortable approaching professors for help in office hours.

Senior Year Designed to Model College Structure:

Concerned by the feedback of alumni, informed by Professor David Conley’s research in College Knowledge, and with the support of the Nellie Mae Foundation’s Partnerships for College Success program, the UPCS faculty redesigned the senior year. The new model aims to bridge the gap between what students typically face in high school and what they will see in college, introducing students to formats and expectations that they will likely experience, and overall emphasizing more independence and self-direction.

The specific changes include:

Courses Meet Two or Three Times per Week: Most of the courses in the senior year meet two to three times per week, as in college. Students complete additional reading and learning outside of class. Teachers expect students to come to class with material prepared for college-style seminar discussions.

Semester-long Classes: Science and social science classes at UPCS are semester-long.

Use of College-Style Syllabi: Most courses use college-style syllabi outlining all reading to be done and assignments to be completed for the semester. As in college, the teacher may not note assignments each day, but students are expected to consult the syllabus independently and complete the prescribed work.

Modeling of College-Style Pedagogy: Teachers adopt lecture-based instruction to model college-style teaching and to help students develop strong note-taking skills. Students evaluate their success at comprehending material delivered in this way and teachers offer strategies to help students develop the meta-cognitive awareness necessary to evaluate their own knowledge.

Modeling of College-Style Assessment: Assessment in senior year courses relies more heavily on a few major assignments. For example, in the Probability & Statistics class, much of the grade is derived from a mid-term exam and final exam at the end of the semester. Decreased emphasis is placed on classwork and homework as compared to earlier grades.

Exposure to College Courses:

Clark University Courses for Credit: Juniors and seniors may elect to take Clark University courses for credit. This enables UPCS to supplement its rudimentary elective program to offer calculus, advanced sciences, and a wider variety of English, history, and social science courses. About half of UPCS students take at least one course before graduation, with some taking as many as four. UPCS also has smaller dual enrollment programs with Worcester State College and the College of the Holy Cross.

All Students Audit a Clark University Course: Another innovation this year is that all seniors who have not taken a Clark course for credit audit a Clark course for three weeks at the start of their second semester. This year, students choose between Biology 101 or Psychology 101. They are expected to do all readings (the school photocopies the necessary textbook chapters), course assignments, and attend at least one office hour hosted by the professor.

Transition-to-College Seminars:

Students take two courses specifically designed to support their transition to college:

Senior Seminar: Senior Seminar offers a structured time for students to complete college applications, write their essays, fill out financial aid forms, apply for scholarships, etc. The guidance counselor is present to offer students the support they need to successfully complete this process.

Senior Project: Seniors complete a portfolio that includes reflections on their service to the school in Senior Project. The course culminates with an exhibition. Seniors will present an account of how they have grown and prepared for college to younger students at the school. It is designed to promote student responsibility for maintaining the school culture.

Other College Support Activities:

In addition, there are formal and informal activities that address college transition through the University partnership.

UPCS College Awareness Day: Held for the first time in January 2007, the annual college preparation program brings together students, parents, alumni and university staff for a morning of focused conversation on what to anticipate and how to prepare for it in the college transition. Over half of all juniors and senior attended this Saturday morning event with their families.

Financial Aid Night: UPCS hosts an evening event to help students and their families understand the financial aid process including the types of financial aid (grants, loans, etc.) the forms which they will be required to fill out, and the timeline for the process.

Mentoring Program: In their sophomore year, all UPCS students are paired with a Clark University undergraduate mentor who meets with them weekly after-school. With their mentors, UPCS students eat in the cafeteria, attend classes and study sessions, and become familiar with campus culture and campus life in anticipation of their own transition to college.

Senior Course Load

Seniors at UPCS take a rigorous schedule consisting of five honors or AP level academic courses:

English (AP optional)

Math: Probability & Statistics*

Science: Anatomy & Physiology or Environmental Science (AP optional)

Social Science: Government (AP optional) or Sociology

Elective: Law or AP Spanish

Optional: Clark Course

*Students wishing to take calculus enroll in math courses at Clark University.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00	Probability & Statistics	Law or AP Spanish	Off-Campus Internship	Probability & Statistics	Law or AP Spanish

9:00	Anatomy or Environmental Science	AP Govt. or Sociology		AP Govt. or Sociology	Anatomy or Environmental Science

10:00		Senior Seminar	Senior Seminar	Senior Seminar
	Senior Sem.				Senior Sem.
11:00	English (AP optional)	English (AP optional)	Senior Project or AP English	English (AP optional)	English (AP optional)

12:00	Off-Campus Lunch	Off-Campus Lunch	Off-Campus Lunch	Off-Campus Lunch	Off-Campus Lunch

1:00
	Senior Project	Senior Project	Senior Project	Senior Project	Senior Project
2:00