The transition from high school to college can come as a bit of a shock to some. Here are a few of the main differences you will experience…
| HIGH SCHOOL | COLLEGE |
| Attendance | |
| Attendance is compulsory | Attendance is up to you |
| Teachers check on your attendance | Lecturers do not chase non-attendees |
| Students must remain on the school premises for the duration of the school day | Students are free to come and go from campus |
| Classes & Time Management | |
| Class sizes are limited – generally 25 – 40 students | Classes are larger – some may number 100+ students |
| Your time is structured for you | You have a timetable with set lecture times but you manage your own time |
| You’ll spend approximately 30 hours in class per week | You spend approximately 12 – 16 hours a week attending class |
| Learning Environment | |
| Teachers give detailed information regarding homework | Lecturers select and structure the most important aspects of a subject |
| Learning time is taken up mostly by lessons in class | Lectures and study guides take students systematically through subject content and concepts |
| Students may do anything from 2 – 4 hours of self-study outside of class per week; often for test preparation | Students are expected to be self-disciplined and directed in terms of self-study. The general rule is that for every one hour spent in class; students should spend an additional 2 – 3 hours of self-directed study |
| Contact & Feedback | |
| Teachers will discuss your progress & grades with both you and your parents | Lecturers do not check up on whether or not you have completed homework & revision exercises |
| Teachers check on whether you have completed your homework | Lecturers expect you to have read and made a note of assignment and assessment briefs |
| Teachers will help you catch up work you’ve missed when absent | Students are expected to catch up missed work on their own |
| Class time is made up mostly of face-to-face teaching | Classes can take different forms; lectures, pracs, studio work etc |
| Teachers frequently mark, correct and comment on students’ work | There are a few opportunities for regular and formal feedback. Students are expected to initiate contact if they need assistance |
| Teachers take responsibility for students’ learning | Students are treated as adults and are expected to take full responsibility for their academic success or failure |
| Assignments & Assessment | |
| Assignments tend to be smaller and more frequent; and may contribute, together with test and exam marks, to a final mark | There may be fewer assignments but they are larger and carry more marks |
| Students are expected to reproduce the core knowledge in their assignments, with little allowance for alternative viewpoints and ideas | Students are expected to critically engage with subject matter, with the understanding that their work will improve with practice |
| Teachers may consult each other regarding assignment due dates so that students don’t have to submit assignments for different subjects at the same time | Late submissions attract severe mark penalties and extensions need to be formally applied for at least 10 days before the due date |
| Referencing & Plagiarism | |
| Students are generally required to provide a final reference list but do not need to indicate references within the text where each piece of information has been sourced from | Students are expected to be accurate and thorough in both their in-text and final referencing points |
Sources:
How is College Different from High School. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.smu.edu/Provost/ALEC/NeatStuffforNewStudents/HowIsCollegeDifferentfromHighSchool [Accessed on: 08 February 2016]
School to Uni: What’s the Difference? (2014). Retrieved from: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learning_guides/learningGuide_schoolToUniWhatsTheDifference.pdf [Accessed on: 08 February 2016]