NPR's declassified college survival guide

Plus, U.S. public schools face a drug crisis unlike any other this fall.

View this email online by Suzanne Nuyen September 2, 2023 Good morning. You're reading a special back-to-school edition of the Up First newsletter. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for a successful school year and NPR Ed Newsletter for more education news.   Your college survival guide School is back in session. A new batch of college freshmen are beginning their higher education journey. The next few years will be some of the most joyful and stressful — and provide immense growth. Whether you've just moved in or senioritis has already kicked in, Life Kit has advice for surviving your college years.  Lindsey Balbierz for NPR  🎒 The first year of college is crucial. Studies show if you finish it and sign up for a second, you're more likely to graduate. Here's how to make sure your freshman year is successful.  🎒 Don't neglect your mental health. Try some of these tips to study more effectively without burning out.  🎒 Office hours are terrifying. I didn't go nearly as often as I should have when I was in school. But they don't have to be. Here's how to take the fear out. 🎒 It's OK if you realize the college you picked isn't for you — or you want to go to a community college and transfer. Follow this advice to make transferring as easy as possible. 🎒 If you're an adult thinking of going back to college, we've got you. These six tips will help you take the leap. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Life after college LA Johnson/NPR Recent and soon-to-be grads are familiar with the dreaded question: What are you doing after college? It's never too early to prepare for finding a job and paying off loans. 🎓 To land a career you love, it's helpful to reflect on your life: What you like, what you've done so far and what you want to accomplish. Here's how to do that. 🎓 There are lots of well-paying jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree. Whether you haven't graduated college or just want a change in life, these tips will help you land a high-paying trade job. 🎓 Paying off loans can be a confusing nightmare. Luckily, we have a comprehensive guide on how to tackle them. 🎓 The Supreme Court struck down President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan earlier this year. The SAVE plan for student loan repayment is more complicated but offers another path to forgiveness. Planet Money breaks down how it works. 🎓 Student loan repayments that were on hold during the pandemic will resume in October. A lot of people's lives have changed since 2020. Here's what borrowers need to know.  Stories you may have missed Photo illustration by LA Johnson/Getty Images/NPR Fentanyl-related teen overdose deaths nearly tripled from 2019 to 2021. NPR looks into three deaths that help illustrate a new challenge schools face this fall. Schools nationwide are stocking Narcan and revamping drug awareness and prevention programs, but they say they can't do it alone.  Last year, public schools recouped $6.6 billion from federal and state Medicaid programs — mostly for services provided to students with disabilities. They could be getting much more. The Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program also covers mental health services and treatments for things like asthma or diabetes. The program recently released new guidelines it hopes will help schools get the millions of dollars they're leaving on the table. Many students are returning to buildings without air conditioning this month. A 2020 report from the Government Accountability Office estimated that about 36,000 schools nationwide need HVAC system updates. Studies show heat is bad for kids' health and academic performance. But the repairs are often complicated, and many schools are too old.  After a deadly 2016 crash in Chatanooga, Tenn., killed six students, Rudy Breglia has been on a quest to get seat belts onto buses. But installing them can be expensive, and administrators add there's no guarantee students will use them. You Count On NPR. NPR Counts On You.  Community support is the NPR Network's greatest strength and individuals like YOU make it possible. It's a key part that fuels our mission informing and engaging your community, your nation, your world.  It takes all of us. Help today.  Donate Now Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). This newsletter was edited by Carol Ritchie. Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Up First emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy