2010-2011 student handbook - El Camino College Compton Center

College Transition
Congratulations! You have successfully
completed high school, and anyone who tells you
that this accomplishment is “no big deal” should
consider the following: by completing this
important phase of your life, you have laid the
groundwork for future success and happiness.
According to Census Bureau statistics, your high
school diploma alone will earn you over $10,000
per year more than those without the diploma.
You’re already ahead of the game, right? Not so
fast. Before you get too excited about your shiny
new high school diploma, consider these statistics:
• Census Bureau figures show that a college
degree is worth nearly twice the annual
amount of what a high school diploma is worth
($51,206 a year, compared with $27,915 a year
for those with a high school diploma only).
• College graduates will earn $402,959 more
than non-college graduates over the course of
their lives.
(Barrow, Lisa and Rouse, Cecilia Elena (2005) “Does College Still Pay?,
The Economists Voice: Vol. 2 : Iss. 4, Article 3.)
• According to several published reports, college
graduates are by-and-large happier than those who
have not completed college.
So pat yourself on the back – you have already successfully made
the most important decision that you can make: to go to college
and pursue a degree! Now the real work begins, and this guide is
here to help you make the most of your college experience.
Here is the most important tip we can give you: instead of
focusing on simply “getting by” over the next four years, think of
your college education as a series of small but important
decisions that, if chosen wisely, will move you closer and closer to
your ultimate goals in life. This is a crucial time in your personal
development. So make the most of what your campus has to
offer: attend your classes and never forget why you are in school.
Join a club or two. Make friends with your roommates, your
suitemates, your classmates, and your professors. Try new dishes,
learn new skills, pick up an intramural sport you’ve never even
heard of. College is a unique time for you to be an integral part of
a learning community.
Seize the day!
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