Getting the Most Out of College: High-Impact Practices

high-impact practices 1–10

Throughout your college experience, you will have the opportunity to participate in activities known as “high-impact practices.” High-impact practices are particular activities that research shows have significant positive impact on both your learning and your overall success. One high-impact practice is taking the first-year seminar, which shouldn’t surprise you given what you have read in this chapter about the value of this course. Here is a comprehensive list of the ten high-impact practices in which you can participate, listed in the order you are most likely to encounter them. (In this e-book, this icon image is used to alert you to these opportunities to enrich your learning.):

  1. first-year seminars The course in which you find yourself now, designed to prepare you for your college experience.
  2. writing-intensive courses Courses across the curriculum that engage you in multiple forms of writing for different audiences. This e-book offers various writing activities that make your first-year seminar a writing-intensive course.
  3. collaborative assignments Learning activities in which you work and solve problems with your classmates in this and other courses.
  4. global learning or diversity experiences Courses and programs in which you explore cultures, life experiences, and worldviews different from your own.
  5. service-learning Programs or courses in which you engage in required field-based “experiential learning” and reflection while giving back to your community through service.
  6. learning communities Programs in which you would take two or more “linked” courses with a group of other students and work closely with one another and with your instructors.
  7. campus-wide common intellectual experiences Programs in which you would take required “common-core” courses, participate in a required learning community, or engage in other shared experiences such as a “common reading.”
  8. undergraduate research A program that gives you the opportunity to participate in systematic investigation and research working one-to-one with a faculty member.
  9. internships Direct experience with service-learning or in a work setting often related to your career interests.
  10. capstone courses and projects Courses or experiences that would require you in the senior year to reflect on what you have learned in all your courses and create a project of some sort that integrates and applies your knowledge.
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Does College Seem Like a Strange Land?
Are you a student who has recently come to the United States from another country? Perhaps you have immigrated with family members or on your own. Whatever the situation, learning the unique language, culture, and expectations that exist at a U.S. college can be a challenge. Do instructors’ expectations and students’ behaviors seem different than what you experienced in your home country? Seek out English as a second language (ESL) courses or programs if you need help you with your English skills. Also, visit the international student counselors to find out how you can continue to increase your understanding of life in the United States, both on and off campus.
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Some high-impact practices may be activities or courses that are mandatory to fulfill general education or major requirements, but others will be optional. It’s a good idea to seek out as many of these practices as you can manage, because doing so will result in heightened learning and greater success for you.

Make Good Choices

The Decision to Become a College Student

Write five reasons that you chose to go to college at this time in your life. Share what you wrote with a classmate and see how many of your reasons are the same or different.