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High School vs. College

College is very different from most traditional high school settings in a variety of ways.  Everyone knows this, and yet the reality can sometimes be a struggle for first year students.  In college, students are expected to be active participants in the learning process and classroom.  Often instructors require students to complete a large amount of outside work prior to each class and expect students to synthesize readings, lectures, and research.  College level courses move quickly.  The two main differences that often present the most first semester challenges are:

  • Changing academic expectations
  • Managing time independently

Consider the differences between High School and College.

Personal Freedom

 ...In High School

 ...In College
 High School is mandatory and free (unless you choose other options).  College is voluntary and expensive.
 Your time is usually structured by others (parents and/or teachers).  You manage your own time.
 You need permission to participate in co-curricular activities.  You must decide whether to participate in co-curricular activities.
 You need money for special purchases or events.  You need money to pay for basic necessities.
 You can depend on your parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and help you set priorities.  You will be faced with many moral and ethical decisions you have not previously had to face.  You must balance your responsibilities and set priorities.
 All correspondence is addressed to your parents.  They read it and tell you what you need to know.  All correspondence will be addressed to you.  You must read all your mail, as you will be responsible for its content.
Guiding Principle: You will usually be told what your responsibilities are and corrected if your behavior is out of line. Guiding Principle: You are now responsible for what you do and what you don't do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions.

Classes

...In High School

...In College
 Every day you proceed from one class directly to another.  You often have hours between classes; class times vary throughout the day and evening.
 You spend 6 hours a day - 30 hours per week - in class.  You spend 12 to 16 hours each week in class.
 The school year is 26 weeks long; some classes extend over both semesters and some do not.  The academic year is divided into two separate 15-week semesters, plus a week after each semester for exams.
 Most of your classes are arranged for you.   You arrange your own schedule in consultation with your academic advisor. Schedules may seem lighter than they are.
 Teachers carefully monitor attendance.  Some professors may not formally take attendance (most will), but they are still likely to know whether or not you attend.
 Classes generally have no more than 35 students.  Some classes may have 75-100 students.
 You are provided with textbooks at little or no expense.  You must budget money for textbooks that usually will cost more that $200 per semester.
 You are not responsible for knowing what it takes to graduate.                                                                                              Graduation requirements are complex and differ by major.  Get and keep a copy of the Undergraduate Bulletin in effect when you matriculate (become a fully accepted student). It spells out the requirements that apply to you.

Teachers / Faculty

...In High School

...In College
Teachers check your completed homework.  Professors may not always check completed homework or even collect it, but they will assume you can perform the same tasks on tests.
 Teacher remind you of your incomplete work.  Professors may not remind you of incomplete work.
 Teachers approach you if they believe you need help or tutoring.  Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to ask for help or tutoring.
 Teachers are often available for conversation before, during, or after class.  Professors want and expect you to attend their scheduled office hours.
 Teachers have been trained in teaching methods to assist imparting knowledge.  Professors have been trained as experts in their particular area of specialization.
 Teachers provide you with information you missed when you were absent.  Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed.
 Teachers present material to help you understand the material in the textbook.  Professors may not follow the textbook.  Instead, they may give illustrations, provide background information, or discuss research about the topic you are studying.  Or, they may expect you to relate the classes to the textbook readings.
 Teachers often write information on the board to be copied into your notes.  Professors may lecture nonstop, expecting you to identify important points in your notes.  When professors write on the board it may be to amplify the lecture, not to summarize it.  Good notes, and, therefore, good attendance, are a must. 
 Teachers communicate knowledge and facts, sometimes drawing direct connections and leading you through the thinking process.  Professors expect you to think about and synthesize (put together) seemingly unrelated topics.
 Teachers often take time to remind you of assignments and due dates.                                                                                            Professors expect you to read, save, and consult the course syllabus (outline); the syllabus spells out exactly what is expected of you, when it's due, and how you will be graded.

Studying

...In High School

...In College
You may study outside of class as little as 0 to 2 hours a week, and this may be mostly last-minute preparation. You need to study at least 2 to 3 hours outside of class for every hour in class.
 You often need to read or hear presentations only once to learn all you need to know.  You need to review class notes and text material regularly.
 You are expected to read short assignments that are then discussed, and often re-taught, in class.  You are assigned substantial amounts of reading and writing that may not be directly addressed in class.
Guiding Principle: You will usually be told in class what you needed to learn from assigned readings. Guiding Principle: It's up to you to read and understand the assigned material.  Lectures and assignments are based on the assumption that you have done this.

Tests

...In High School

...In College
Testing is frequent and usually covers small amounts of material. Testing is usually infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material.  You, not the professor, need to organize the material to prepare for the test.  A particular course may only have 2 or 3 tests in a semester.
Makeup tests are often available. Makeup tests  are seldom an option; if they are, you must request one.
Teachers frequently rearrange test dates to avoid conflict with school events. Professors in different courses usually schedule tests without regard to the demands of other courses or outside activities.
Teachers frequently conduct review sessions, pointing out the most important concepts. Professors rarely offer review sessions, and when they do, they expect you to be an active participant, one who comes prepared with questions.
Mastery is usually seen as the ability to reproduce what you were taught in the form in which it was presented to you, or solve the kinds of problems you were shown how to solve. Mastery is often seen as the ability to apply what you've learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems.

Grades

...In High School

...In College
Grades are given for most assigned work. Grades may not be provided for all assigned work.
Consistently good homework grades may help raise your overall grade when test grades are low. Grades on tests and major papers usually provide most of the course grade.
Extra credit projects are often available to help you raise your grade. Extra credit projects, generally speaking, cannot be used to raise a grade in a college course.
Initial test grades, especially when they are low, may not have an adverse effect on your final grade. Watch out for your first tests.  These are usually "wake-up calls" to let you know what is expected - but they also may account for a substantial part of your course grade.
You may graduate as long as you have passed all required courses with a grade of D or higher. You may graduate only if your average in classes meets the standard for your major.  Most major departments require a student to maintain a 2.25 GPA in the major and a 2.0 cumulative average. 
Guiding Principle: "Effort counts." Courses are usually structured to reward a "good faith effort."  Guiding Principle: "Results count."  Though "good faith effort" is important in regard to the professor's willingness to help you achieve good results, in the grading process, it will not substitute for results.

Adapted from web pages created by Southern Methodist University and Murray State University