Moving out to go to college in a different city, state, or even country can be intimidating. It can be a little difficult to assess what your college life will be like before you get there. This is especially true for students who have lived guarded lives at home. However, college life is not that scary. A college education offers many things that you can benefit from. There is also a lot that you can look forward to in college. Below are a few differences between college and high school.
5 Notable Differences Between High School and College
1. Class time and size
One of the main differences between college and high school life for students is the classes. In high school, students are used to having a fixed timetable that rarely changes. Teachers are pre-assigned and always stick to their teaching schedules. Students attend classes of an average of 7 hours with fellow classmates, not more than 35 in number. In college, however, the number of class hours is determined on a weekly basis, depending on the course you’ve chosen. College students attend classes for an average of 12-16 hours per week. The class attendance for college classrooms may vary from 20 to 100 or even more students.
2. Teaching style
Another obvious distinction between college and high school is the style of teaching used by teachers and professors in the classrooms. In high school, teachers use well-developed syllabi that cater to slow and in-depth learning of basic concepts. They present material to help students grasp and learn new things and expect them to take notes as they teach. In college, professors usually lecture for hours on end, providing you with references you need for additional learning, but don’t follow up as strictly as a high school teacher would. Because this requires a lot of self-organization from students, a lot of them use to help with learning and paper writing. Such professional aid can benefit freshman students who are still trying to get the hang of university education and seniors who need to write complex assignments alike.
3. Time management
As mentioned above, high school students’ learning needs are often taken care of by the school management. In high school, students typically follow a structured timetable that has been created by the school’s administration. In college, professors are not responsible for your learning. As a student in college, students need to learn effective time management on their own. College professors may not formally take attendance of all students in class, unlike school, where regular checking is done.
4. Testing and grading systems
In high school, testing is common and happens frequently. Regular assessments usually cover small portions of the syllabus and are conducted this way to help students really grasp a concept before moving on to something bigger. High school students are graded based on how they present what they learn. In college, testing is a lot more irregular, and it frequently covers a bigger portion of the syllabus. College students are graded based on the proper application of their school-learned knowledge in real-life scenarios. There are a lot of tools to use while in college that can help you understand grading systems better.
5. Expenses and other responsibilities
This is a very significant aspect of moving out of home and studying in college. Living at home with parents while attending high school means that all living expenses are paid for. Students may not have a lot of major expenses or responsibilities to take care of. In college, expenses like rent and fees may be covered by the student’s parents, but a college student is usually in charge of handling smaller expenses and other charges like dining, textbooks, and other learning material and equipment.
Final Words
These are the most important differences between college and high school. It is helpful to learn about them before attending university, to get more accustomed to a different lifestyle and specific demands of a college education. Read through the points we outlined and prepare for a new chapter of your academic life!
