When students arrive at JC as freshmen, they are done a disservice. They aren’t prepared for the amount of work and studying that high school requires. When students leave for college, they are plagued by bad study habits.

Freshmen and sophomores need to be officially taught how to study through an extra seminar class, similar in structure to Junior Guidance and Senior Project.

These classes have helped in students’ navigation through the college process and students’ ability to do independent work. Now the administration needs to take that idea one step further to establish good study habits.

If freshmen and sophomores were taught fundamental studying, writing, and test preparation skills, then within a few years the entire school’s average GPA and SAT scores would likely increase, improving the school’s reputation.

Adding a mandatory “How to Study” course to the school’s curriculum for freshmen will make JC’s education more well-rounded and complete. Students, though they will complain, will come away from the seminar class with skills that the majority of the current student body lacks.

With the promise of giving students a strong core foundation in test preparation, JC would make the school more appealing to prospective students and parents. Individual test preparation classes are expensive and many would agree that it is a skill one should learn throughout high school.

Sadly, it currently isn’t. JC prepares students for college more so than any public school, but it could do more by giving students the fundamental study skills they need to succeed, both in high school and higher education.

Bryan Doherty is an Opinion Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.