Lessons from Inside: Sharing What You Wish You Had Known with Future College Students

aerial view of UB.

Reflect on your successes and struggles as a UB undergraduate and support area high school students as they prepare to navigate the college process. 

Project description

With so much focus on getting into “the right” college and navigating the application process, many students are not prepared for the actual experience of being an undergraduate. The initial semester/s can be particularly jarring as students navigate new academic expectations, competing demands, and advocating for themselves within an unfamiliar settings. When they experience failure for the first time, it can be difficult to maintain their sense of confidence and not succumb to "the imposter syndrome" - feelings of not being qualified and fear of being found out.   

As a current UB student, you are working through your own set of challenges towards reaching your academic and professional goals. While reflection on your journey can help support your own growth and development, it can significantly benefit those yet to embark on their own undergraduate educations. Namely, in addition to simply getting into college, they could begin to prepare for the challenges and opportunities that await them. The insights and suggestions that you can provide are especially important for students who do not have access to family or contacts who have successfully completed college. 

Through this project, we will partner with area high schools and programs that support first-generation students in graduating from high school, entering, persisting, and completing a post-secondary education. Through your project, you will produce a multi-media presentation that shares insights and strategies based on your own experiences toward the goal of supporting student preparation and success. This project is designed for students participation in CEP 199 with Dr. Huber but is open to other students interested in this opportunity.

Project outcome

Students will produce a multi-media presentation that will include the following:

  •  Introductory slide introducing you and your topic/challenge
  • Why your topic/challenge is relevant including any related data or reports
  • Relevance of the topic/challenge to your own journey as a UB student
  • How you were able to deal with the challenge and what resources you were able to leverage
  • What you wish your younger self had known/ what you would like to share
  • Importance within broader context of learning and growth
  • Words of encouragement/ advice or suggestions related to your experience
  • Any additional guidance, insights or points of information
  • Concluding slide 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment  8-10 weeks
Start time Spring 2022
In-person, remote, or hybrid?
Hybrid
Level of collaboration   Individual or small group
Benefits  Community engagement digital badge
Who is eligible Students in CEP 199 with Dr. Huber or any undergraduate student with interest.

Core partners

Project mentor

Mara Huber

Associate Dean, Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning; Director, Experiential Learning Network

127 Capen Hall

Phone: (716) 829-2834

Email: mbhuber@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Ensure you are enrolled in the course for the correct semester.
  2. Click the button to start the digital badge below.

Preparation activities

A 3 - 5 page paper including:

  • Reflecting on your own high school experiences and how they did/didn't prepare you for college.
  •  Upon reflecting on the various challenges you have encountered, which challenge or category of challenge has been the biggest obstacle to your success, or which challenge have you been most focused on overcoming/working through?
  • In what ways does this challenge undermine your success at UB? What is your motivation for dealing with this particular challenge?
  • What specific target audience would you like to support through your ELN project?  Is there a target "type" of student you are hoping to connect with/ who would most benefit from your presentation if you were able to share?
  • What format do you plan to use for your multi-media presentation and how do you plan to structure/approach it? Are there any specific skills or resources that you will need to develop or consult to complete your project?

 

Keywords

CEP 199