Seven Differences Between High School and College

Something that many new college students struggle with is the fact that college is not high school. There are many differences between high school and college that a new college student should be aware of before arriving at school. In this article, I intend to describe seven ways in which high school and college are different.

Difference #1 Between High School and College - Course Difficulty
College courses are more difficult than high school courses. Granted, this is a generalization, but on the whole it is true. Some college courses might not seem as difficult if you have taken a similar course before in high school. For example, students that took two years of physics in high school will probably not have as much difficulty in college physics as students that never took high school physics. However, even if you are prepared, courses can be more difficult and will go faster than they did in high school. This is due to the fact that you might have two or three lectures per week in college as opposed to having a course five days a week in high school.

Difference #2 Between High School and College - Grading
In high school, you might have had four or five tests per marking period, along with numerous quizzes and frequent homework assignments, and sometimes even bonus points. In college, your final grade may be based on two or three tests and a final exam. You may never have homework or bonus points to bump your grade up if necessary. Granted, your grade might be boosted if there is a curve in the course, but you shouldn't count on it.

Difference #3 Between High School and College - Relationships with Teachers
Relationships with college professors will be a lot different than relationships with high school teachers. For example, you might be lucky if a professor knows your first name if you are in his or her 400-person macroeconomics course. Some professors might teach 1000 students in a year, whereas high school teachers might have 100 students every year. As you get into smaller, more specialized courses, professors will get to you know better, and you may be invited to help in research, so don't despair. For a guide on how to develop professional relationships with professors, feel free to look at this article I wrote on the topic.

Difference #4 Between High School and College - The Importance of Motivation
Parents and teachers are not going to hover over you in college telling you to study and do your homework. If you're not self-motivated, you're going to have a lot of trouble in college and should possibly consider doing something else with your time. Professors won't care if you don't turn in your homework, do readings, or fail a course entirely. You need to be motivated on your own to go to lecture, to turn in assignments, and to study for exams.

Difference #5 Between High School and College - More Freedom
At college you have much greater freedom with regard to the courses you can take and the activities in which you can participate. This is one of the best aspects of college. You can choose to take courses on esoteric topics and can create a schedule that allows you to sleep late, if you so desire.

Difference #6 Between High School and College - The Importance of Networking and Extracurriculars
Networking and extracurriculars are much more important in college than they are in high school. This is due to the fact that you will need to get a job or admittance to graduate or professional school after college. Knowing the right people and having a strong resume can ease this process considerably. I've written a three-part series on college networking that can be found here, here, and here.

Difference #7 Between High School and College - The Importance of Self-Advocacy
There are lots of options as to what you can do and study in college. You can double and triple major, you can minor in multiple subjects, you can do study abroad, you can take courses at other colleges, and so forth. However, you will need to do most of the proverbial footwork in order to set these opportunities up for yourself. While high schools do have extra programs and possibilities for interested students, they are often easier to sign up for and begin. College requires you to do research, contact people, and fill out paperwork if you want to have things your way.

While college is in many ways more difficult than high school, almost all students prefer their university education to that they received in high school. And though there are significant differences between the two forms of education, the transition is quick and relatively painless as long as you recognize that things are different in college. Can you think of any other ways in which high school and college differ? Feel free to share your thoughts in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!