E11: Jacqui Springer, Transition to College Mental Health Goes to School

In Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Jacqui Springer, Assistant Dean for Student Support and Advocacy Services at the University of Rhode Island, we focus on the transition to college and learning what supports are available and what students and families should consider when applying to college.

The most important thing is for students to have honest conversations with providers, teachers, and caregivers. The biggest error is wishful, magical thinking that it will all work out, without considering what supports students are currently using and are key to their success in high school. 

Questions to ask and concerns to think about before applying to colleges include:
Which aspects of student support have been the most valuable to the student in high school? The most common accommodation from high school Individual Education Plans (IEPs ) is 50% extended time for exams and some assignments. These accommodations don’t transfer automatically from high school- the student must re-apply at the college level. 
College accommodations may look much different than those in high school. Many students are shocked to learn that flexibility around deadlines and due dates for assignments is not as commonly available at the college level.
What are residence requirements? Are there opportunities for first-year students to have single rooms in dormitories or will the student be required to have a roommate unless medical documentation says they need a single? What challenges will the student face in living with a roommate?
What support may be needed outside the classroom? Can the student independently function in non-academic ways - including taking care of their health and well-being?
What documentation is needed that the student does not currently have? Some schools require recent psychological or neuropsychological testing before they will provide accommodations.
What is offered through campus health services such as psychiatry and therapy? What model of counseling is used?
Find the disability and access services: locate the office and learn how accommodations are provided.
A question that is not asked as much as it used to be is what does it mean to be “otherwise qualified”? In addition to academic skills, students need adequate mental stamina, persistence, and self-regulation to manage demands at the college level. 
What impact will the student have on the campus community?

The cost of college education is high and in addition to the standard tuition, room & board, and other fees, students and families should consider other possible costs such as:
Tutoring
More time to complete a degree by taking a manageable class load may end up costing more
Recognizing trouble early because refunds may not be available after a cutoff date
Implications of dropping or withdrawing from courses may include limits on the availability of future financial aid or even having federal aid taken back from the student.
Federal aid information is often buried in the financial aid section of the school’s website

Other factors that should be considered

Type of school: urban, rural, suburban; small, medium, large; typical class sizes; residence requirements; private or state; the range of majors available in the student’s areas of interest
Location: near home or far away; city or self-contained campus; near activities that students can participate in
Readiness to live independently


REFERENCES


University of Rhode Island
https://www.uri.edu/

FAFSA
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Pell Grants
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell



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