Tabor is touted as a top college preparatory school, but what is it really like after graduation? The transition between high school and college is often a pivotal moment for students, but for some, the transition is easier than others. Tabor’s goal is to ensure that graduates thrive in all aspects of their next academic journey. What that in mind, The Log reached out to recent Tabor graduates to hear more about their experiences in the first few months of college.
Isaac Martin ‘25 attends Endicott College, a small private college in Beverly, Massachusetts. Isaac is studying environmental science at Endicott’s School of Science & Technology.
I do feel as though Tabor prepared me well for college life, but there are some things that are very hard to recreate. As a Tabor day student, moving to college was my first time living in a dorm full-time, especially being 2 hours away from home. While I already had an idea of how dorm life would be, it is always tough learning to live with a roommate. I believe the hardest part of adjusting to dorm life is finding time alone. In the dorm that I chose, I have a small room and a tight community, so everyone is very close. As someone who likes to have some quiet time every once in a while, just to reset myself and rest, finding that time has been difficult for me.
I would say that although the workload between Tabor and college has been similar, I am forced to manage my own time more so in college. In college, for every hour spent in class, I am expected to do two hours of homework. It often doesn’t seem like much, since I spend much less time in class than I did at Tabor, but I have to complete work without a professor standing over my shoulder making sure it gets done, which can be difficult. However, I do think that the workload at Tabor prepared me well for college. Overall, I don’t think that my transition into college has been incredibly difficult, but it has definitely been a shift from what I am used to. I’ve felt as though I had to push myself out of my comfort zone a lot more often than in my last couple years of high school.
Camden Jeppson ‘25 writes about his experience at Virginia Tech, a large public university in Blacksburg, Virginia. Cam is studying FinTech Big Data Analytics, a major in Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business.
The transition from Seawolf to Hokie was very smooth. Tabor prepared me in many ways, especially with time management. As a former day student, I quickly learned how to get my work done during open blocks and between classes to allow for additional free time at night. Implementing this skill in college has allowed me to make the most of my free time.
A few things I will say about college:
1. Take more classes than recommended. Tabor has prepared me well for a heavy workload. If you take more classes in the beginning, it will only make your life easier towards the end of your four years. I am currently taking 19 credit hours while other freshmen have been advised to take 12-16. This has been very manageable for this first semester.
2. Especially at a larger school, it’s helpful to find a clique. Tabor is a small community, so this was a change for me. I joined a living-learning community centered around data analytics, and I have made great friends through this program.
3. Take things in as they come. As a freshman, don’t stress over being involved in everything because you have four years ahead of you to figure out what you truly enjoy. I was determined to make the most of everything, but I ended up burning out within the first two weeks. Give yourself time.
Isaac and Camden provide important insights as well as excellent advice for current Tabor students. As former day students, adjusting to life at school has been one of the most challenging changes. While they chose vastly different schools, their experience at Tabor has clearly prepared them well for the demands of college life and academics.
