http://www.studentadvisor.com/articles/5-things-to-know-about-the-transition-from-high-school-to-college
5 Things to Know about the Transition from High School to College
06/19/2013
The summer between the end of high school and freshman year of college is truly a memorable time. You are encountering a transition that is exciting, nerve-wracking, incredibly intriguing, and fairly frightening all at once. This is one summer you won’t be spending worrying about the return of your school’s all too familiar bell schedules and classrooms because instead, you’ll be anxiously awaiting the brand new environment of campus opportunity and independence.
Of course, all universities are different and every college student experience will vary based on factors such as class size, program strength, living options, and more. Yet, regardless of those specific details, there are a handful of basic elements that all students will need to face head-on that encompass the main differences between being a high school student and a being a college student.
For those of you who have just flipped that tassel and are wondering how in the world you’re going to fit all your belongings into one of those tiny dorm rooms, here are 5 important things to understand about this major life transition from senior year to freshman year.
1. Class schedules will never be as neat as they once were.
No longer can you just show up to one building and attend all of your classes in a straight 7 or 8 hours at once. While most high school classes are typically 50 minutes long, the lengths of college classes vary widely and will not follow each other directly. As a college student, you could have a 3-hour long Science lab that takes place once per week, a 90-minute History course to attend twice per week, or a 50-minute English discussion that meets three times per week. Not only that, but some will be first thing in the morning while others could start as late as seven o’clock in the evening. The combination will be different every semester and it is all up to you to set those alarms and map out that calendar accordingly.
2. No one is going to coddle you.
Unlike in high school, faculty members will not be going out of their way to check up on you, having conferences with your parents every semester, or easily able to get to know you as a person. This is not to say that it is impossible to develop a relationship with your college professors and academic advisors, or that they will completely write you off and never take an interest in you – but it will be significantly harder to do so. It takes more effort on both your parts, so you clearly need to take as much control as possible. Professors are not going to ask if you have made time yet for those readings nor are advisors going to actively remind you to check on the status of your graduation requirements. Just as no one is going to wake you up for that 8 a.m. lecture, no one is going to make sure you are fulfilling all your academic responsibilities on time. Self-discipline is key in college, especially your freshman year.
3. Readings and other assignments are going to be a lot more voluminous.
Some of the nightmares you hear about hundreds and hundreds of pages of assigned readings are unfortunately true. In high school, the class syllabus may have outlined 2 or 3 books per semester to complete; in college, that number shoots way up, leaving the professor with no choice but to assign incredibly lengthy sections of reading at a time. The same goes for essays and problem sets – much bigger quantities, much more frequently. As a college student, and particularly in your freshman year, you’re truly going to need to keep up to speed.
4. Getting involved is far more critical.
Joining clubs and participating in sports was important in high school, but it was more of a rite of passage than a necessity, given that you’d grown up with most of your peers for several years and were already very familiar with them. Meeting people was never that big of an issue, but it sure is for a college student. When you are thrown in the midst of thousands of students from different cities, different states, and different lifestyles, it’s impossible to know exactly what to expect. Making sure you become part of at least one of the many organizations offered on a college campus is a great way to ensure you don’t get lost in the crowd. Additionally, it is a simple way to make friends with people who have the same interests as you. You’ll also learn about the university in ways you never could as just an observer and be proud to represent it. And the best part of joining a campus organization? There is literally something for everyone–from intramural kickball teams, to chess clubs, to fraternities and sororities, to Seinfeld-watching clubs. Don’t miss out on finding your niche!
5. Prioritization needs to be taken to a whole new level.
Judging by the preceding notes, you can probably figure that setting and understanding your priorities is essential to succeeding in college. Even if you were the star priority-maker in high school, you’re going to need to re-evaluate your system even further to really make sure you’ve got a handle on things your freshman year. When looking at the week ahead of you and seeing 3 exams, 5 readings, 2 papers, and a club meeting – all in the middle of the diversely scheduled classes you need to attend – being able to adequately assess the importance and time-sensitive level of each task will eventually be what makes or breaks you.
As long as you come in mentally prepared for these changes, you will be just fine on that new campus. Fully adjusting to them will take some work, but it will all be worth it once you’ve comfortably adapted – and at that point, you will fully be able to enjoy and appreciate campus life.
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