Videos, Resources, and Downloads
Take on the role of a student and try to move toward earning a postsecondary credential. How far can you advance in four semesters? Can you find the academic support you need to pass all of your classes?
This game is best played with four to six players. With this group size, all players will be able to see a range of experiences emerging over the course of the game.
Video guides
Game Overview
The Basics—Game Goals and Player Cards
How to Play
Sample Round of Play
Sample Student Story A
Sample Student Story B
Game Components and Downloads
The College Student Success Game™ comes with the following components in each box.
Sample Game Scenarios
Completed Semester: Player Began College 2 Course
First Person Narrative of Semester
Card 1: I started college when I was in high school because I took dual enrollment courses. That totally helped, and I was already ahead of the game because I already had college credit by the time I graduated high school and started college full-time. I also knew what college advisors were for, which was important because the first week of school, I got an email that I had lost my financial aid. Rather than freaking out, I went to my Advisor who brought me to the Financial Aid office. I filled out a form and signed a document, and all was good again. Phew.
Card 2: I really enjoyed the Psychology class I was taking. Fortunately, I had taken the required English course to get into it while I was in high school. The instructor had us look up articles that we could find online through the LMS. They were totally fascinating. In high school, we were limited in what courses we could take, but in college, there are so many things you can study. I’m really thinking of going into social work or something similar, which is why I like the psychology course so much.
Card 3: Partway into the semester, I was stressing out a bit about what assignments were due. I remembered in my dual enrollment course, they made a big deal out of teaching us how to read a college syllabus. It seemed silly at the time, but I knew how to look up the course calendar and see when the big paper is due and when the midterm is.
Cards 4 & 7: I scheduled an appointment with my advisor and talked through what it means to be a psych major and to transfer once I complete my Associate’s degree. It kept my motivation for college really high. They also explained how the best students go to tutoring, not just those who are behind. I started going to the Tutoring Center, and it helped me improve my grade.
Card 5: I needed that boost because my mom got sick. I had to take care of her, so I missed a couple of classes. I emailed my instructor to let them know. So, even though I missed some classes, I wasn’t too impacted that I couldn’t keep up. During class, the instructor did these activities to help us understand who we are as learners, why we are in college, and what we hope to do with our degrees. It kinda fit with the class, but it seemed like the instructor was really getting us to think critically about ourselves beyond the material itself. This helped me focus even more on my goals.
Card 6: At the end of the semester, I put in lots of hours looking up references, writing my paper, and turning it in two days before it was due. I was really proud of myself and can’t wait to continue.
Completed Semester: Player Began Prequisite 2 Course
First Person Narrative of Semester
I came to college after graduating from high school. I was working 30 hours a week while taking classes, but I thought I could handle it because I was always good at time management. When I went to orientation, they had me take this test, and then they told me I wasn’t ready for college classes. They put me in a remedial course, which was kinda lame since I already learned that stuff in high school. Once I pass that course, I have to take another remedial course after that. I didn’t know I was going to take a test when I went to register for classes, so I wasn’t really prepared. I feel like if I went to high school in the fancy part of town or if my parents went to college, then maybe my transition to college would have been different.
Card 1: In any case, I started off well. I arranged my schedule so my classes ended by 2:00, and then I went to work each day after that.
Cards 2 & 6: But then, I lost my job which sucked. And it wasn’t my fault at all. They basically said they were overstaffed for the afternoon shift, and since I was the newest hire, they had to let me go. My boss was real nice about it, but couldn’t do anything to help out. At first, I thought I might leave school for a bit. I remembered from orientation that my school had a one-stop shop, so I went there, and they helped me out with some immediate help so I could keep going and take classes.
Card 3: I turned in a big project and was keeping up, and was feeling good. I got another job and told them that I was a college student, but they put me on the morning shift when I was supposed to be in school. I needed that paycheck, so I missed class again, which put me behind right when I was feeling caught up in class.
Card 4: The teacher would review the material we needed for class and have us do practice sets over and over, which really made a difference. My grade was improving. I quit my job, and it put a strain on me. Fortunately, the college gave me a voucher for the cafeteria. I felt a little funny about needing the support, but it really helped me stay in school.
Cards 5 & 7: I kept going to class and even formed a study group with other students in my class. But the stress was too much, and I started failing tests, which is not like me. I spoke to my advisor, who said that our college has on-campus jobs if you are on financial aid. That would have solved everything since I wouldn’t have to take a bus an hour to get to work and miss class. But the jobs were only open during the start of the semester. For all that I did, it just wasn’t enough. I failed the class.
Still, I learned a lot and I’m not giving up. I’m all set for next semester. I have my work-study job set up, and I’m going to take my remedial courses in shorter 8-week blocks so I can finish them both in one semester. I wish I could go right into college courses, but I know I’ll make it.