by Patrick B. Anderson, LaCrosse Tribune

Claire Platt hesitated to give up six weeks of her summer break for a pre-college program at Vanderbilt University.

But the 17-year-old senior at Onalaska High School eventually found the perfect training ground for university life.

Platt discovered a new sense of independence and learned the importance of self-reliance and time management that can evade some college freshmen. She left the Nashville, Ten., university with a new respect for the difficulties of post-secondary academia.

"I liked it a lot more than I expected," she said. "Nothing really prepares you for college until you are immersed in that college atmosphere."

If high school students have a tendency to get caught up in their own world, then Platt has blasted that world wide open, gaining a clear vision of what life will look like when she graduates. Her time at Vanderbilt helped her see past high school, Platt said.

The program was designed to give Platt and other students an early taste of college. She lived on campus, free to make friends, socialize and attend class.

"The learning experience you get from that is huge," she said.

Classes were rigorous. Some were designed to teach students how to struggle. Platt tried asking for help - for extra guidance she may have received in high school. She was told to figure it out on her own, left to her own devices.

"It's not like high school," she said. "No one is babysitting you, holding your hand."

Platt, president of her school's National Honor Society chapter, is not used to struggling with school. She easily balances homework with a roster of volunteer efforts for the society.

But college life caught her off guard. Platt was quickly swept up in a world of new friends, but struggled to find help in her studies and assigning time to her homework. The workload seemed daunting.

"At first, I hated it," she said. "You're so busy all the time."

Platt realized she needed to focus less being social and spend more time on her studies. Eventually, she discovered a love for academic independence.

Platt is applying to six universities, including Vanderbilt. She isn't sure of her major yet, but she thinks she wants a liberal arts degree, and eventually study law - or maybe medicine, Platt said.

She wants to work with people.

"I like people, and that's kind of like the priority of my life," she said.

College was always the plan.

The pre-college program helped solidify her decision and helped her catch an early glimpse of what she faces.

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