What to Consider When Selecting a Comprehensive Transition Program
Finding an accredited and comprehensive transition program is essential to helping young adults with learning difficulties succeed. Those who complete and graduate from one of these programs boast an improved quality of life, a new sense of independence, and better employment outcomes, to name just a few.
There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to finding a post-secondary program. Here are some key considerations when selecting a comprehensive program for young adults with learning differences.
Tips for Selecting the Right Transition Program
When selecting a transition program, several key factors need careful consideration. Start your research early to gather all the important details, including program options, admissions criteria, and financial assistance. Understand your young adult’s unique needs and goals and review various program options to find the best fit.
Take time to comprehend the program’s admission criteria and make sure your student meets all necessary requirements before applying. Review tuition and financial assistance options to understand what is included in the cost, such as room and board, transportation, and support services. Finally, allocate ample time for the application process, which often involves multiple steps like applications, interviews, and campus visits. By following these tips, you can find a transition program that aligns with your young adult’s needs and aspirations, ensuring a successful transition to independence.
Start Your Research Early
When it comes to finding the right transition program, it’s important to start your research early for many reasons. Doing your due diligence on programs takes time, and you don’t want to add any additional stress to overwhelm the experience. During your research, you’ll want to take note of all the important details including program options, admissions criteria, financial assistance, and more.
You can begin your research with a simple search online. It can also be beneficial to talk to parents who have gone through this process before to hear what they learned. Talking with former students can help give you an inside look at their experience with a specific program as well.
Review Program Options
When searching for the right comprehensive transition program, it’s important to understand all the options available that best suit the needs of your student. From year-long college programs to weekend experiences or art-based programs, there’s a little something for everyone.
If your student is looking to be empowered and build the skills they need to live on their own, an independent living program would be a great option. Or maybe they’re looking to transition into the workforce, so a career program would help them hone their career and job skills training.
For students entering grade nine through 12 looking to get a head start through an innovative pre-college program, a “College and Beyond” summer immersion experience can help them determine what their needs are and expose them to different types of college programs. This experience can help make the research process we mentioned earlier more streamlined.
Ensure Program Certification and Accreditation
You want nothing but the best for your young adult. When searching for a comprehensive transition program, be sure that they are an accredited program with CQL Certification.
Transitions is accredited with distinction by the Council of Quality and Leadership (CQL), which is the highest accreditation an organization like Transitions can receive. This accreditation recognizes our excellence in both operations and plans for the future.
Understand the Program Admission Criteria
Understanding a program’s admission criteria is crucial. The application and interview process can be extensive, and ensuring your student is the right fit and meets all necessary criteria before submitting an application is essential.
Here at Transitions, students are at the heart of all our programs and experiences, and we work hard to ensure that every applicant is a great fit for the program they choose. As part of our admissions process, we require all applicants to be under the age of 27 and have a diagnosis of a learning difference such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, nonverbal learning disabilities, and other learning differences.
Review Tuition & Financial Assistance Options
When selecting a transition program, be sure to review the details for tuition and financial aid. You want to understand the specifics of what is included in the tuition for the program, including room and board, transportation, recreational and social activities, and therapeutic support.
Along the same lines, you also want to understand what is not included as part of a program’s tuition. Is the cost of college courses included or is it paid separately to the associated college? Some programs may offer special activities, but they come with an extra charge. Or perhaps there are supplemental charges if your student requires additional medical and/or emotional support, such as overnight staff.
It’s also important to look at the tuition rates across locations. Transitions’ full-year programs range in price depending on whether a student is attending the Cobleskill Campus, Mayfield Campus, or Albany campus.
This life-changing opportunity for students is a big investment, but many programs offer financial aid and assistance to help make these programs affordable. To make programs like Transitions affordable, we recommend exploring the following:
- Federal and State Grants
- New York State Funding for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Medical Tax Deductions
- Student Employment
- Payment Plans
- Private scholarships
- In-House Scholarships
Carve Out Ample Time for Applications
For most year-long transition programs, the application process is multi-faceted. Typically, there is a standard application to complete that allows the program to gather more information about the student to ensure they are a good candidate for the program. If they are a good fit, the student then moves on to an interview with an advisor. They may even schedule an in-person visit for a campus tour. After an application has been received and the student has been accepted, the registration process begins to get the student set up for the start of their program.
Finding the Right Comprehensive Transition Program
We hope these tips ease any stress and make the process of finding a transition program a bit easier. At Transitions, we’re on a mission to help young adults with learning differences succeed and transition to independent living, college, and career environments. If you’re interested in learning more about the programs available, we invite you to connect with us or schedule a visit.
