A Semester Reflection for College Students
As the fall semester comes to a close, students will start to receive final grades and see the results of their work over the last few months. This can be both exciting and stressful, depending on performance. No matter what the final grades look like, this is the perfect time to reflect and consider what worked, or in some cases, what didn’t. Reflecting on the past semester is a great way for students to identify potential areas of improvement, as well as identifying courses and subjects that they feel the most confident about. Learning to pause and analyze overall performance is a valuable skill that will help students both in college and beyond as they enter the working world after graduation.
Here are some questions that you can encourage your student to reflect on while they are home for Christmas break. Try using the questions individually, not all at once, at times when you are engaged in another activity together, like cooking or riding in the car. This can help them reflect without the conversation feeling too forced. If they are open to it, journaling about these topics is also a great idea!
Did you reach your goals?
This of course requires your student to create and identify goals at the start of the semester so that they can measure if those goals were in fact met. Goals like a certain letter grade in a class are a good start, but even goals like creating better study habits, finding a study group, or simply asking for help when needed are excellent goals to have for the semester ahead.
If your student was able to reach that goal, what was it that got them there? Encourage them to note what specifically helped them reach their goals. If your student struggled in the fall semester, help them identify what was holding them back and brainstorm changes they can make moving forward. Making these changes can be new goals for the semester ahead. Truly powerful change can come from goal-setting exercises, especially when the goals are specific and attainable. It can help students feel re-invigorated for the upcoming semester and build their confidence when they see they have the ability to meet the goals they set for themselves.
Where did you spend your time? What kind of things did you do most?
This feels like a simple question, but helping your student reflect on where they spend the majority of their time will help them discover more about why they are or aren’t achieving their goals. This can also help them explore what their school/life balance is like, and if the time they set aside for studying is setting them up for success. Are they going to office hours, the library, or study groups? Are they studying off-campus or in their dorm room? Are they spending the majority of their evenings in the dining hall, skipping study sessions? Help your student prioritize their time by taking stock of how they spent their time last semester, and considering whether it was fruitful.
What would you do differently?
Maybe they would have taken a class that they were curious about but were too nervous to try. Maybe they didn’t ask questions when they felt they needed extra clarification. Thinking about the areas over the last few months that were either hard or disappointing can provide good reflection points and excellent motivation for the semester ahead. We don’t suggest spending too much time focusing on the negative. Instead, have your student identify and acknowledge the areas where he or she fell short and create a plan to eliminate those behaviors in the upcoming semester. Use the shortcomings as a tool to inspire meaningful change, not to invoke feelings of disappointment.
Helping your child discover more about themselves and their college experience is one of the most meaningful ways that you can support them. If you feel that your student needs help with time management, organization, and study skills, but it might be better coming from someone other than you, we completely understand. More importantly, we are here to help. Click here to get in touch with our team of experienced college coaches today. We look forward to learning more about you and your student.