Congratulations! You’ve completed the college application process, checked off everything on your high school senior college application checklist, and been accepted into your desired school or university.
While there is a lot of excitement and anticipation as you transition from high school to college, it’s also common to feel nervous about the difference between high school vs. college.
Or, maybe you’re not quite sure what the difference between college and high school even is. Thankfully, University of Bridgeport has helped many high school students transition to college. Below, we’ll explore the difference between high school and college so you can be ready for all the exciting opportunities college offers.
Why is college important?
College is the perfect time to discover the best version of yourself. It’s where students take classes of interest, make new friends, set up professional connections, and grow as students and people.
Consider these tips to make the transition from high school to college easier:
- Build connections with faculty and staff: Reach out to faculty and staff for help, guidance, and support throughout your college experience. For example, at University of Bridgeport, our students can take advantage of the many support services in our on-campus Heckman Center, including a food pantry, tutoring services, career counseling, academic advising, and much more!
- Put yourself out there: Go to campus-sponsored events and set a goal of talking to at least three people you don’t know, even though it’s scary. The bonds you make in college allow you to create lasting memories and friendships long after graduation.
- Stay open-minded: College is a time when you are reminded of your values and beliefs while also learning new ways of seeing the world and expanding your worldview. It’s also an opportunity to recognize the difference between disagreement and disrespect — and to develop the tools to respond to both scenarios.
Eight differences between college and high school
The difference between college and high school can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by preparing yourself by asking questions and putting support systems in place so you can meet the challenges and adjustments of high school vs college head-on.
1. Age groups
In high school, students are surrounded by other students who are close in age to them, typically only one to two years of difference between students. And while high school seniors, seventeen to eighteen years old, can have classes or be involved in activities with first-year students, roughly fourteen to fifteen years old, that is rare and often the most significant age gap in high school.
On the other hand, colleges can have a much wider range of ages and age groups as students pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Additionally, the age groups at college vary because colleges are filled with first-time and traditional college students, students returning to school after working full-time, and graduate students pursuing advanced degrees.
2. Independence
A student’s life in high school is pretty structured, with classes consistently meeting for 7-8 hours each weekday. Plus, most high school students live with their parents or guardians.
College is almost the exact opposite, especially if students choose a school that is not in their hometown. Students are now in charge of their own time, schedules, and lives. Yet, independence and freedom come with their own set of challenges. College students are responsible for their own choices, decisions, and the positive and negative consequences of those actions.
Set priorities and boundaries for yourself with your school work and social life. Additionally, don’t be afraid to use your school’s comprehensive support services and seek additional help from friends, family, faculty, and staff.
At University of Bridgeport, our student experience embraces and celebrates uniqueness. Learn more today!
3. Class Size
Another difference between high school and college is class size. In high school, it’s rare to have more than thirty-five students in a classroom solely taught by teachers. In college, however, classes can range from five to two hundred students, depending on the institution’s size. Keep in mind that general education courses will have larger class sizes than the specialized courses in a student’s chosen major or field of study.
At University of Bridgeport, for example, the student-to-faculty ratio is sixteen to one, and the average class size is fourteen. Additionally, while professors with doctoral degrees teach most college classes, some classes, especially ones at large universities, are taught by graduate assistants.
4. Course Load
College courses are more challenging than high school courses, but with hard work, focus, and preparation students can be as, if not more, successful than they were in high school. In college, students are assigned substantial amounts of reading and writing, which may not be directly addressed in class. Don’t expect your college professors to remind you what reading needs to be done or when assignments are due.
Instead, use the course syllabus given to you at the start of the course to create a calendar for yourself including the assignment due date and how it will be graded. Lastly, exams can be long, writing assignments are frequent, and there are more debates and discussions, so it’s essential for students to stay on top of their course load.
5. Grading
Grading is one of the most significant and eye-opening differences between high school and college. Students in high school can get good grades by comprehending what they were taught and solving problems precisely as they were taught. Plus, daily assignments and extra credit opportunities are more frequent in high school, which benefits those students with lower test scores.
Conversely, college students are graded on their ability to apply what they learn to new situations and problems. Daily assignments and extra credit opportunities are rare, as grades are determined by tests and papers.
There are also fewer opportunities for grades overall, with some courses only having two or three tests in a semester. So watch out for your first tests. These are usually “wake-up calls” to let you know what is expected, but they may also account for a substantial part of your course grade.
6. Flexibility
In addition to increased independence, college students enjoy more flexibility. They manage their own time, control their schedule, and are responsible for getting to class, doing their homework, and studying.
Set yourself up for success by choosing classes that fit your schedule and identifying when you study best (morning, afternoon, or evening). For example, if you are not a morning person, try to avoid any early morning classes if your major allows you to do so.
College students also have flexibility in choosing their major and can even enter college as “undecided,” which allows them to explore a variety of majors, courses, and future career options.
7. Social Life
College students have a much richer, dynamic social life than high school students. In college, students are surrounded by people from their dormitories, classes, extracurricular activities, jobs, and more.
Create a dynamic social life by getting involved as much as possible with:
- Club meetings
- Greek and dorm events
- Study groups
- Volunteer opportunities
8. Responsibility
It’s important to stress that increased independence and flexibility bring increased responsibilities. College students cannot rely on parents or teachers to set their schedule and priorities like they may have in high school. Instead, college students must balance and set their priorities themselves. And this goes beyond the classroom—don’t forget to set aside time to do laundry, exercise, and other self-care activities.
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University of Bridgeport is dedicated to embracing and celebrating the uniqueness of our student body. With students from over forty-five states and eight countries, we seek to provide students with career readiness, innovation, and a supportive, challenging learning environment.