Transitioning from high school to college is exciting—you finally get to take ownership of your time, responsibilities, and who you want to become—but it can also feel overwhelming as you adjust to a new schedule, level of responsibility, set of expectations, and teaching style.
To make a smooth transition, it’s helpful to know what to expect and what will be expected of you. Here are some basic differences between high school and college:
Academics:
The amount and difficulty of work increases in college. College classes cover more material and delve deeper into subjects in a shorter amount of time, so developing college-level study skills is essential.
High school teachers present material straight from the textbook, calling out what information is important to learn. Professors generally don’t follow the textbook. They expect you’ll read the assigned chapters and use what you’ve read as a framework for understanding their class lecture. It’s up to students to identify the important points and take comprehensive notes.
Homework:
High schoolers learn material and complete most assignments during class. In college, a lot of learning is done on your own time. For every one credit hour you enroll, plan to spend two to three hours outside of class studying or doing homework. If you’re taking three classes (typically 15 credit hours) you should plan to spend 30-45 hours per week on studying and homework.
High school teachers will remind you of assignment due dates. Professors expect you’ll read and reference the class syllabus, which lays out expectations and when assignments are due.
Tests:
In high school, tests and quizzes are pretty frequent and cover smaller amounts of material. Teachers often conduct review sessions and point you to the most important information you need to know to pass.
Tests and exams are less frequent in college and cover more material at a time. Professors generally don’t do review sessions, and it is up to you to prep yourself from your notes and class supplemental materials.
Teacher/student relationship:
High school teachers will make a point to approach students they think need help and are often more available to students before and after class. Professors are more than happy to help students who are struggling but will expect you to take initiative to approach them and ask for help. Professors also have set office hours and you might need to make an appointment to meet with them.
Advising:
High school students are assigned a guidance counselor or advisor who will make sure they take classes necessary for graduation and point students toward school resources they may need.
In addition to advising, colleges have lots of resources for students, but it’s generally up to students to seek these services out. College students should take stock of their learning goals and support needs and engage with campus resources like tutoring centers, coaching, and counseling to ensure they achieve educational success.
Expenses:
In high school, you generally need money for field trips and special events and activities, while textbooks and other class-related expenses are covered.
Expenses in college vary widely depending on whether you’re living at home, on campus, or off campus on your own. At a minimum, you’ll need to budget for tuition, additional class fees, and textbooks. The good news is there are many ways to pay for college. Most community colleges have a Foundation that offers scholarships to help offset the costs. Check in with your college’s financial aid office for help figuring out what resources you might qualify for or if they offer a payment plan or other sources of aid to help cover the costs of college.
College is fun! You get to learn what you want while working toward a future that excites and inspires you. But students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and assume an active attitude toward their education and their relationships with faculty, their peers, and campus support services. The best way to achieve in college is to engage fully.
Consider making the transition from high school to college with Get in Gear (GIG), a 12-credit block of classes we offer at Shoreline that allows students to fulfill key degree requirements while learning study skills.
Additionally, every Shoreline student is encouraged to make an appointment with our Success Coach to get free help learning essential time management and effective study skills.