Making It EC for Yourself: Advice from Early College Pros

The decisions are out: current 9th graders know whether they got into the Early College Program or not. If the former, their first lessons can be found below. Remember, this isn’t a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Listen and learn.

Taking classes at Ohlone College can seem intimidating at first, especially being surrounded by students who are much older than you while also taking classes in half the amount of time you would at a regular high school. The best way to overcome any possible fears you might have is to first make sure you prioritize your classes over social events or what you might think other students think of you. This means to speak out and ask questions during lectures, or, if you’re too nervous to, go to your professor’s office hours and ask them any questions you might have. Going to office hours is especially helpful if you’re not doing that well in a class, and you want to go over topics you’re not quite getting or if you’re looking for extra credit your professor might not offer to the entire class. Most of the time, your teachers will be very happy that you’re reaching out, and if you show commitment to the subject, you’ll get a good grade. With that being said, you can’t just depend on how nice your professor is to get a passing score. Always stay on top of, if not ahead of, your coursework, and never slack on studying for your midterms and final!

— Lauren C.

I think keeping track of your homework and when it’s due as well as having good time management is really important in the Early College. This is especially because the teachers and professors won’t always remind you about things like due dates. And in AP Literature specifically, you’re simply given a date by which to finish the book and it’s up to you to pace yourself. On the other hand, there are also Ohlone professors who give optional homework or sometimes none at all. In cases like these, it’s important to study, since your grade will most likely rely on things like tests and exams. Taking advantage of optional homework and extra credit opportunities can help because it both boosts your grade and helps you study. Knowing the ways you study best is a good thing to know as well because you don’t want to waste time trying to study in a way that doesn’t help you.

— Isa E.

My number one piece of advice is definitely to be involved in your classes! Ask questions and participate in discussions; it’s so much more helpful for your relationship with your professors and what you get out of classes.

— Jessica A.

Finish all your work on time.

Don’t procrastinate or wait until the day before it’s due to finish an assignment.

Stay on top of your assignments by checking Canvas, your e-mails, and your class syllabus at least everyday.

Don’t be scared to talk to your Ohlone professors because they are there to help you. If you ever do need help in a class, go to your professor’s office hours.

— Vanshika S.

When you first join the Early College, it can feel pretty intimidating and even scary to take classes at a community college. Going from a classroom that is filled with students your age to one where students often range from 18 to 50 years old is definitely a transition, but in my experience, a smooth one. To survive the EC, you definitely need to get comfortable in your Ohlone classes and get used to the quicker pace and strict due dates (most teachers don’t accept late work). Something I’ve found important too is knowing how you study best. Unlike in the middle school, midterms and final exams play a big part of your final grade so to do well, you need to figure out a way to learn the information effectively. This could be with flashcards, going over your class work, or even practice essays. Going to office hours before big tests or whenever you have a question can also be a major help. In my experience, going to office hours can seem scary at first but usually reaps more than one benefit. First, you’ll get your question answered, and second it will help you create a better relationship with your professors. This can prove extremely useful, especially when you start thinking about college applications and need to have two supplementary recommendation letters from previous teachers. At Ohlone, most professors are more than happy to help you, whether it be after class or during their weekly office hours. These tips alone will not guide you through every problem you may face during your years at the EC, but hopefully they will give you a better idea of what to expect and think about as you make the transition from the middle school.

— Sonia P.

Surviving the Early College Program is really about work ethic. You just have to be persistent in studying, reading, doing homework, etc., and you have to make sure you are keeping track of when assignments are due. There are a lot of ups and downs in terms of workload, meaning there will be some periods where it feels like you have no work and some periods where it feels like you have a bunch of stuff to do. So it is really important that you manage your time accordingly and keep track of all your assignments and tests. Even though you’ll be in college classes and professors will probably not know you as well as they do in the middle school, don’t be afraid to ask your professors questions if you need help because they are there to help you. For the AP English classes, the number one thing I would say is to not be discouraged when you get super low scores on quizzes because it has happened to all of us, and there are a lot of opportunities to get your grade up. Overall, the best advice I can give is just to be excited about learning the material in the classes you are taking and to try really hard to understand the material because that will make your time in the EC less scary and less stressful. Also, make sure to get help from and help the other people in your grade because you guys are all in the same situation.

— Kimia F.