Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
ENLARGE
On the Web ...
To view the Oregon University System Entering Freshman Profile report for Oregon high schools, vist http://www.ous.edu/dept/ir/reports/hsprofile/
SUTHERLIN — Graduation is never a guarantee that your old teachers will stop asking loaded questions.
Sutherlin High School Principal Marty Gary asked a panel of recent graduates now studying at community colleges and universities in Oregon what they would redo if they had high school to do over again.
“I know the answer, but I'm tired of telling you the answer and I think you might listen to someone else,” he told current SHS juniors and seniors who were gathered Thursday in the school's library to listen to alumni advice.
Kayla Powell, a first-term freshman at University of Oregon, was quick to answer Gary.
“Oh, I would study my butt off,” she said. “I never really studied in high school and it bit me in the butt the first term.”
The other 12 Sutherlin alums echoed Powell.
Teachers and other staff present weren't surprised by the young college students' advice but guessed it would be one of those lessons the current high school students would probably find out the hard way.
Like many entering college freshman from Douglas County and Oregon high schools, SHS class of 2008 graduates' grade point average fell from high school to the end of their first year in college, according to the recently released Oregon University System's Entering Freshman Profile.
For a Sutherlin student, that meant an average high school GPA of 3.74 sank to an average of 2.79 for the first year of college.
The statewide averages were a 3.46 GPA in high school to 2.86 the first year of college.
The OUS profile looks at the transition from high school into the seven state universities in the OUS system. The reports, released in mid-November, are the most recent for high school graduates of 2008 and are available by district online.
For local comparison, 2008 graduates of Douglas High School in Winston fell from an average high school GPA of 3.61 to a first-year college GPA of 2.92; Roseburg High School students fell from 3.52 to 2.82; and Glendale High School students fell from 3.61 to 2.39.
Seven Douglas County districts did not have recent reports. Jonathan Jacobs, from the OUS Office of Institutional Research, said reports aren't made for districts with fewer than five students who went directly into an OUS university after high school.
Along the same lines as Powell's comments, the report states, “better preparation in high school has long been linked to stronger performance in post-secondary education.”
While the students said living away from home was fun and things like college meal plan cards were awesome, most agreed academia at the next level was a shock initially.
The brisk change from smaller class sizes to being one in a sea of college students, taking classes from professors and instructors who were “drier and less friendly” than high school teachers and ultimately being their own regulator in balancing homework and social life presented a big adjustment.
“My freshman year, I don't think I had a class under 300 (students),” said Conrad Goddard, who is now a sophomore at Oregon State University.
About half of the panelists were studying at community colleges in Oregon and said the price was right and the class sizes were still small. However, many said they felt it was too similar to high school and didn't have as many social activities to participate in after classes.
There can be a flip side though, the university students said.
“You have to study when you're not in class,” said Jordan Cowan, a sophomore at Western Oregon University this year. “It's important to hang out with friends and (participate in events) ... but it's a lot of responsibility on you to find that balance.”
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
Sutherlin High School Principal Marty Gary asked a panel of recent graduates now studying at community colleges and universities in Oregon what they would redo if they had high school to do over again.
“I know the answer, but I'm tired of telling you the answer and I think you might listen to someone else,” he told current SHS juniors and seniors who were gathered Thursday in the school's library to listen to alumni advice.
Kayla Powell, a first-term freshman at University of Oregon, was quick to answer Gary.
“Oh, I would study my butt off,” she said. “I never really studied in high school and it bit me in the butt the first term.”
The other 12 Sutherlin alums echoed Powell.
Teachers and other staff present weren't surprised by the young college students' advice but guessed it would be one of those lessons the current high school students would probably find out the hard way.
Like many entering college freshman from Douglas County and Oregon high schools, SHS class of 2008 graduates' grade point average fell from high school to the end of their first year in college, according to the recently released Oregon University System's Entering Freshman Profile.
For a Sutherlin student, that meant an average high school GPA of 3.74 sank to an average of 2.79 for the first year of college.
The statewide averages were a 3.46 GPA in high school to 2.86 the first year of college.
The OUS profile looks at the transition from high school into the seven state universities in the OUS system. The reports, released in mid-November, are the most recent for high school graduates of 2008 and are available by district online.
For local comparison, 2008 graduates of Douglas High School in Winston fell from an average high school GPA of 3.61 to a first-year college GPA of 2.92; Roseburg High School students fell from 3.52 to 2.82; and Glendale High School students fell from 3.61 to 2.39.
Seven Douglas County districts did not have recent reports. Jonathan Jacobs, from the OUS Office of Institutional Research, said reports aren't made for districts with fewer than five students who went directly into an OUS university after high school.
Along the same lines as Powell's comments, the report states, “better preparation in high school has long been linked to stronger performance in post-secondary education.”
While the students said living away from home was fun and things like college meal plan cards were awesome, most agreed academia at the next level was a shock initially.
The brisk change from smaller class sizes to being one in a sea of college students, taking classes from professors and instructors who were “drier and less friendly” than high school teachers and ultimately being their own regulator in balancing homework and social life presented a big adjustment.
“My freshman year, I don't think I had a class under 300 (students),” said Conrad Goddard, who is now a sophomore at Oregon State University.
About half of the panelists were studying at community colleges in Oregon and said the price was right and the class sizes were still small. However, many said they felt it was too similar to high school and didn't have as many social activities to participate in after classes.
There can be a flip side though, the university students said.
“You have to study when you're not in class,” said Jordan Cowan, a sophomore at Western Oregon University this year. “It's important to hang out with friends and (participate in events) ... but it's a lot of responsibility on you to find that balance.”
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
