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A Real Feel for College Harper's Summer Bridge Program - Part Boot Camp, Part Refresher Course - Helps New Students Adjust to Life on Campus

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

There's training camp for baseball, basketball and, of course, football players.

They all need time to adjust before the season actually starts.

But what about freshmen college students? Don't they need an opportunity to find out what college may be like?

Well, Harper College in Palatine recently put on a training camp of sorts for new Harper students starting their first semester of college today.

In mid-August, the college held its two-week Summer Bridge program.

According to college officials, the intensive study program gives first-generation Harper students a head start on their freshman year.

Summer Bridge students review math, reading skills and computer skills, learn about college resources like the tutoring and writing centers, go over study and test-taking techniques and discuss the difference between high school and college life.

"A student whose parents didn't go to college, or didn't attend college in the United States, is more than likely going to be unfamiliar with how to navigate the system," said Travaris Harris, counselor, Center for Multicultural Learning. "This program increases their odds of being successful."

One of those who attended was 18-year-old Jodie Delprincipe, an incoming freshman from Schaumburg.

The Schaumburg High School graduate said she wanted to get a jump start on the semester.

After a long summer off having fun, Delprincipe said the program has helped her get refocused.

"It helped me get back into school mode. For a community college, Harper is pretty big," Delprincipe said. "I met a lot of nice people and I have an understanding of how college will be."

Delprincipe added the classes in reading, writing and math worked out very well.

"They teach you the fundamentals of what you will be learning your freshman year," Delprincipe said. "I think college would be a little harder without the program. I'm a terrible test taker. The program helped me."

Delprincipe plans to transfer to the Illinois State University after receiving her associate's degree from Harper in two years.

Another participant was 20-year-old Tomasz Podobinski, who immigrated in recent years from Poland.

The Buffalo Grove High School graduate says some of his friends now wish they had attended the program, especially to gain valuable insight in the scheduling of classes.

"I got to meet new people and I discovered some new ways in how to study," Podobinski said. "Some of my friends who didn't attend are now having a tough time with scheduling classes."

The Summer Bridge program is funded by a grant from the Harper College Educational Foundation.

Source: Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.

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