essay difference between high school and college

College vs. High School: Differences and Similarities

Many students can’t wait for high school to end and college to start which is associated with freedom, friends, living without parents and a chance to take control over your life. Most people admit that in college they’ve entered adult life.

We won’t talk about adulthood here – as it’s not the time for tedious matters – we are going to compare the differences and similarities of life in high school and college instead. What should you expect from each? What are the main challenges of each? Is college academically hard? Let’s go straight to business.

Comparing Two Milestones of Student Life

So, you want to move out of your parents’ house as quickly as possible to have fun and attend parties, as you’ve heard these are the only things college students do. However, this is not actually true.

Obviously, there are a lot of differences between studying in high school and in college. To help you figure out what they are, we’ve prepared the lists that are divided into categories determined by different spheres and aspects of both academic levels.

Studying Process

While high school studying process might seem difficult, many students find studying in college more challenging due to lack of self-motivation.

High School:

• You attend all the scheduled classes
• You have a lot of classes a day
• You are obligated to be in school and do your homework
• You schedule your classes the way you want
• You choose classes which you long to learn
• Attending classes and completing assignments are your responsibility
• You spend most of your time on homework
• Commonly your course grade is defined by one single exam or assignment

You might be also interested to know more about the differences between high school and college finals.

Lifestyle and Social Sphere

It’s hard to be objective when it comes to comparing college vs. high school social life because getting into a college can be too overwhelming to keep a clear mind. Parties, adulthood, numerous new friends, tight budget, anxiety, new everyday routine – all of these things are like an avalanche for a freshman.

High school:

• You need to get up early in the morning to be able to get to school right on time for your first class
• You live with your parents
• You know everyone in your class
• You have a schedule assembled by your teachers and parents
• Studying at home for 2-4 hours a week might be enough – the rest of your spare time you spend as you wish
• You try to look “cool” and often feel embarrassed
• You get to know a lot of new people from different parts of the country (or the world)
• You can stay up all night – anyway, getting up the next day will be only your problem
• You can schedule your weeks as you want to
• You spend less time in class, but you have to study more in the dorm or in the library
• You can visit events and parties without someone’s permission
• Everyone is too busy to pay attention to your outfits
• Establishing a friendship with your roommate is highly recommended

Teachers and Professors

It’s not a secret that most of the time in college you spend on trying to force yourself to complete your assignment. You will also need to learn how to contact your professor and how to find his or her office hours in a gigantic schedule.

• Teachers closely follow the books
• Teachers help to be right on time with all of your assignments
• Teachers try to motivate and engage you
• Teachers provide you with assigned material
• Professors follow the books they wrote and academic works or personal experience
• No one will hunt you down for attendance, but you will have problems if you skip the classes
• You are the only one who can motivate yourself – it’s not your professor’s business
• Professors treat you like a grown-up and expect responsible and deliberate behavior from you

Food is almost the last thing a student thinks about when imagining studying in college. But it’s a very significant issue which almost in all cases requires basic cooking skills.

• Your parents provide you with healthy dishes
• You can eat in a school cafeteria during a school year
• You rarely or never cook for yourself

Just find something more nutritious than a pack of chips. These Tricks for Cooking Healthy College Meals on a Budget can help you.

So, we’ve already defined some differences between these two life stages. Let’s make an overall comparison of student life in high school and college.

College vs. High School

Life in college has so many opportunities, which were banned for students during high school years. But it is also accompanied by many difficulties students face for the first time in their lives.

High School

• You don’t know what time-management is
• You need to learn how to take care of a plant in your room
• Teachers try to encourage you to learn
• You are banned from many events
• You wish you had more spare time
• You are anxious about specialization choice
• Sometimes you lie you’re sick
• Everyone attend high-school because they are obligated to
• You think that college level is the end of learning
• You believe that tests are the worst part of studying
• You think that college students spend the whole time at the parties
• You can’t wait to get into a college
• You wish you were older
• You need to work on your time management skills
• You need to learn how to plan your budget
• You need to learn how to take care of yourself
• Self-motivation is your main task
• Parties are not as fun as one says
• Studying takes a lot of spare time
• You choose college classes which you are interested in
• You have no time to be sick
• Those who attend college do that because they want to and chose to
• You know that you have a lot more things to learn after college graduation
• You need to perform actually in-depth researches
• You think that high-school students are kids
• You can find a part-time job
• You need to learn how long human can live without sleep

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High School vs College: 15 Key Differences

Other High School , College Info

Are you about to start college soon? Are you wondering what changes to expect? How is college different from high school? When you compare high school vs college, you'll find many differences, some of which are obvious, others less so.

It's important to understand how high school and college are different from each other so you know what to expect and can have a smoother transition when you begin college. In this guide, we explain the 15 most important differences between high school and college and give you tips to help make this major life change a bit less intimidating.

How Is College Different From High School?

There's a reason so many movies, shows, and books focus on new college students: many people see the transition from high school to college as one of the most important turning points in their life. You're no longer a kid living under your parents' roof; instead you're an adult living on your own and expected to make real, important decisions about your future.

You'll have a lot more freedom, but a lot will also be expected from you, both in class and out. Read on to learn specific high school vs college differences.

Below are 15 high school vs college differences you'll likely encounter once you begin college. There are pros and cons to both high school and college, but knowing what to expect will make you better prepared for this big change.

#1: You'll Have More Independence

The biggest change for high school vs. college is that, in college, you'll have much more independence than you had in high school. Many people focus on the fact that you'll be living away from your parents, and this is a part of it, but you'll have independence in many other areas as well.

You'll have the freedom to decide what you want to major in, which classes you want to take, when you want to schedule those classes, if you want to go out with your friends, how late you want to stay out, even what you want to eat in the dining hall. (I ate Reese's Puffs cereal every day for four years because my parents never allowed it and I was thrilled to finally be able to have it for breakfast.)

#2: You'll Be Treated Like an Adult

Along with your increased independence, you'll also be treated like an adult in college as opposed to a child under your parents' care. In college, you'll no longer need to bring your parents permission slips to sign, you'll be trusted to make your own choices for what you want to study, and you can arrange meetings yourself, without Mom and Dad helping you.

For many students, it's exciting to finally be viewed as an adult, but it also means an increase in responsibilities. If you have a problem with or question about homework, classes, a grade you got, etc., you are the one who will need to solve it. You can't expect your parents to call the school and fix the problem for you like they may have done in high school.

#3: There Will Be a Wider Variety of Classes to Choose From

In high school, you didn't have a lot of choice in regards to which classes you took. You could probably choose a few electives , but your schedule was mostly filled with the standard math, science, English, and social studies requirements that all students had to take.

In college, even if you attend a smaller school, you'll have many more options. They'll be a wider variety of classes to choose from , and many of them will focus on more specific topics like astronomy, ancient Roman history, French literature, the geography of the United States, and more. Many college students like this increase in class options since it makes it easier for them to choose classes on topics they're really interested in.

#4: Classes Will Have Different Formats and Sizes

Each class you took in high school probably had about the same number of students and consisted mostly of lecturing, maybe along with some individual or group work. This isn't true in college. Classes can range from two to 500 students, and their format can vary widely as well. Classes may be completely lecture-based, require hands-on lab work, or be discussion-based where you spend most of class time engaged in conversations or debates with your classmates and professor.

#5: Your Schedule Will Be More Complicated

In high school, school started and ended the same time every day, and your class schedule was probably the same for every day of the week. In college, things get a little trickier. Some classes meet three times a week for an hour and a half, some meet five times a week for an hour, some meet once a week for three hours, etc. This means you'll likely be starting and ending class at different times during the week, and you may end up with a different class schedule for every day of the week.

Some people like the variety this gives them, but it's important to stay on top of your schedule so you don't wind up forgetting to attend class.

#6: You'll Have a New Set of Classmates

One of the most jarring things for many new college students is they're no longer surrounded by classmates and friends they've known for years. Instead, you'll be in a sea of strangers (at least at first), many of whom come from different areas and backgrounds than you. Additionally, you'll likely have a different set of classmates for each of your classes. That's a lot of new faces!

This means you have lots of opportunity for making all kinds of friends, but expect there to be some awkwardness and loneliness at first as everyone gets to know each other and figures out their friend groups. Additionally, since in college everyone wants to be there (at least on some level), you may find your college classmates more motivated and dedicated to doing well in school compared to some of your high school peers.

#7: Classes Will Require More Critical Thinking

Is college hard compared to high school? Going to college isn't just like attending four more years of high school. This is a big step up in your education, and your classes will be more challenging and expect you to keep up. You'll be tested less on memorization and basic regurgitation of facts and more on critical thinking skills and being able to apply what you learned in class to other situations.

You may learn a specific math equation and then be asked to apply that knowledge to more challenging types of equations, learn about different historical events and be asked to analyze how they affected future events, learn a scientific process and be asked to describe how it affects the environment, etc.

#8: College Costs More

There's no way around it; c ollege definitely costs more than high school. Tuition is thousands of dollars, and you'll likely be paying for room and board as well. And those are just the main costs. College requires all sorts of smaller purchases too, like special goggles for your chemistry lab or official test taking booklets for final exams. Buying just one college textbook (often over $100) is enough to never let you take for granted all free materials you got in high school.

#9: You'll Spend Less Time in Class

Most full-time college students spend about 15-20 hours in class a week, which comes out to about three or four hours a day. This is probably much less time than you spent in high school classes every day which means you'll have a lot more unscheduled time to spend how you think is best.

#10: You'll Have More Schoolwork

Don't get too excited about spending less time in class; college definitely knows how to keep you busy. The general rule of thumb is that you'll spend about three hours a week on schoolwork for every one hour of class you're in.

With a standard schedule of 15 credits, that means you can expect to spend 45 hours a week on schoolwork, about as much as a full-time job! This is often much more work than students had in high school, so you should be prepared for an adjustment.

#11: Attendance Will Be Up to You

In high school, you had to go to class every day because if you didn't, you could get in trouble for truancy or (sometimes even more frightening) your parents could find out. In college, there are no requirements for attending class, and no one is going to call your parents if you don't show up. However, don't make the mistake some college students do and think this means you don't need to go to class.

Many professors include attendance as part of your grade, and some will even fail you if you miss a certain number of classes without a valid excuse. Plus, it's often very difficult to do well in a class if you never show up, and you're paying a lot of money for these classes! Make sure you get the most out of them that you can.

#12: You'll Have More Social Opportunities

Even if you were a social butterfly in high school, you'll have tons more opportunities to be social and make friends in college. There will be sports teams to join, parties to go to, clubs you can be part of, and more. Most colleges are large enough to have something for everyone, so you're bound to find an activity you're interested in, whether that's a recreational hockey team, the student government group, a club focused on promoting renewable energy, and more.

There are also likely many more students at your college than there were at your high school, so your opportunities for making friends will multiply as well. However, you do need to make an effort to get the most out of these opportunities. Push yourself to try new things and strike up conversations with new people, and if you're feeling nervous, just remember that they're likely feeling the same way. Standard questions to ask new people you meet in college include: Where are you from? What dorm do you live in? What are you majoring in? Get ready to ask and be asked these questions a lot!

#13: It'll Be Harder to Stand Out

Once you start college, you won't be a big fish in a small pond anymore, and it'll be harder to stand out from the crowd. While in high school you may have been the star student/athlete/singer, in college you'll be surrounded by many talented classmates, many of whom were also the best at something in high school. Some students struggle with no longer automatically standing out, but there are plenty of benefits to this.

First, you'll be able to bond with other students who are also skilled at your talent. If you were, say, the star drama student at your high school, you may not hold the same position in college, but you can befriend all the other high school drama stars and create some awesome shows together.

Additionally, some students like the anonymity being a new college student brings. If you've been labelled as a jock or theater nerd for all of high school, going to college--where people don't know you--allows you to shed or alter that identity if you wish and try new things (or try the same things with less pressure).

#14: You'll Get Fewer Grades in Class

In high school, you probably had daily homework assignments you had to complete and got a grade for. These, along with some larger projects, quizzes, and tests made up your final class grade. If you got a low score in one, it was usually fine since there were plenty of other chances to make up for the low grade.

Once you start college, you may find that many classes have far fewer assignments, meaning you'll receive fewer grades and each of those grades are worth more. Instead of regular homework assignments and quizzes, many college classes are based only on a midterm grade and a final grade. This means you need to take those exams/papers/projects very seriously because if you mess up on one of them it'll be very hard to raise your class grade back to where you want it to be.

#15: You'll Be Doing Lots of Reading

You know those pictures of exhausted-looking students sitting next to a pile of textbooks they need to get through? That's how many college students feel. Expect to do lots of reading in college, including textbooks, journal articles, and literature. If you're majoring in a field like computer science or math you can expect less reading (and more homework), but you're still guaranteed to have at least a few classes where you're assigned to read a couple dozen textbook pages before the next class. You'll get to know your school's library very well.

Tips for Making the Transition From High School to College

Going from high school to college can be tough no matter how excited you are to start at your new school. Below are three tips to help make the transition easier.

Know There Will Be Changes

You've already taken one of the most important steps to prepare for transitioning from high school to college: you're expecting and preparing for the differences. When you know that the high school to college transition will bring major changes, you'll be more prepared for anything that comes your way.

Be Prepared for Some Bumps

Many movies about college make it seem like new college students immediately find a group of close friends, know exactly what they want to study, and have an awesome social life. In reality, it rarely works like this. Many new college students have moments where they feel awkward, lonely, and homesick. This is completely normal; after all you're making a major life change.

By managing your expectations of college and not expecting to love it right away, you can better manage the transition from high school to college and not end up disappointed when it takes a little while to feel comfortable.

Put Yourself Out There

When you first start college, there will be a lot of changes, and it'll be easy to hang out in your dorm room and text with your high school friends. However, you should resist this urge.

College is probably the best time you'll ever have to meet new people and try new things, so you should take full advantage. Keep your dorm room door open to meet your neighbors. Strike up a conversation with your chemistry lab partner. Join a club or sport you've never tried before. Not only will this make the transition from high school to college easier since you'll be meeting more people, you may discover a new friend or hobby.

What's Next?

Not sure which college you want to go to? Check out our guide on choosing the right college so you can make the best decision.

Stressing over college applications? We're here to help! Our step-by-step guide breaks down the complete college application process from start to finish.

Worried about choosing a major on your college applications? Learn how to navigate the process and make an informed decision.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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What’s Covered:

• Academic Differences
• Social Differences
• How to Find the Best College for You

For many, college means transition. Most students who start their new lives as recent high school graduates find themselves in a bit of a limbo state. They’re technically adults, but many are still financially dependent on their parents. (And during the pandemic, they could well still be living with them every day, too.) For some, it’s the first time being away from home for a long period of time. 

There’s no doubt starting college requires adjustment. You probably know that it’s not going to look the same as high school, in terms of your academics, social sphere, and many other aspects of your life. Just what will be different? Here are some of the main distinctions.

1. You have more freedom in choosing your classes (and greater variety).

You’ve probably wondered from time to time why it’s so important for you to take algebra or chemistry or world history. Here’s the good news: when you get to college, you’ll have much more leeway when it comes to choosing your courses. You’ll be able to declare a major and study a field you think you might want to pursue as a career. And you won’t have to spend much time on disciplines you dislike.

That doesn’t mean you won’t have any requirements. Many colleges have distribution requirements, meaning you’ll have to take a certain number of courses in other specified disciplines. Most majors have specific courses or general areas of courses you must take, too. And some colleges have core requirements, meaning all students are required to take specific classes as a term of their degree completion. But even the schools with the strictest requirements still tend to have far fewer than your high school curriculum.

If you really want to direct your own learning and have the fewest requirements possible, you may like open curriculum schools . These schools have no required courses, other than your major requirements and usually a writing seminar.

2. You’ll spend less time in class but likely more time studying.

Typically, a full-time college student takes about 15 credits per semester, with one credit equalling an hour of class time per week. That means you’ll only be in class for 15 hours per week, or an average of three hours per weekday. Some days, you may not have any classes at all.

That’s a far cry from high school, which you’ll usually attend for 6-7 hours per day. But don’t get too excited — you’ll also need to invest a lot more time studying and working on coursework outside of class than you did previously, given the rigor of these higher-level courses.

3. It may be surprisingly hard to wake up for that 9 am college class.

You may have found it difficult to get up in the morning in high school, but you probably had your parents telling you you had to. Plus, you had more structure in general. Even though young adults need less sleep than teenagers, according to the Sleep Foundation , the lack of rules and more freedom to make your own choices can make it difficult to get up for classes, even when they start later than your high school classes did.

It’s important to set rules for yourself about waking up on time and attending classes. This is critical for your own growth, as well as your grades. You could try to avoid early morning classes if you know you’re not a morning person, but don’t let the scheduling stop you from taking classes that interest you.

4. Classes may be longer but are usually less frequent.

In high school, your classes were probably around an hour, but you had them 4-5 times per week. In college, be prepared for long, less frequent classes. It’s not uncommon to see courses that meet once a week for three hours. Or, you might have classes that occur twice a week for an hour and a half per session (some subjects do meet more frequently and for less time, though).

You may find it difficult to sustain your attention for that long, so you should experiment with different methods to keep yourself alert. You’ll also need to put in the time to keep the content fresh during your days off from the course since you’ll have your classes less frequently.

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5. Attendance isn’t necessarily mandatory (but you should still go).

You probably won’t have instructors taking attendance, especially in your large lectures. This won’t necessarily always be the case though, particularly in smaller seminars; you may be given a certain number of absences before they begin to affect your grade because your presence is integral to the structure of the course.

Don’t use lack of attendance accountability as a reason not to go, however. For one, it will impact your grade, even if not directly — you’re missing out on learning the material, some of which may not be found in your textbook or LMS. You’re also wasting money, whether or not you’re paying full freight.

6. There are fewer assignments, but they matter a lot more.

Instead of frequent essays, quizzes, and tests, you may only have a handful of assignments per course during the semester. For example, in a math course, you could only have two midterms and a heavily-weighted final, while in a literature course, you might have three or four papers that comprise the majority of your grade.

Because it can be difficult to gauge an instructor’s expectations early on, and many freshmen have trouble adjusting to the new level of academic rigor, some professors will drop your lowest grade on equally-weighted assignments. This will give you a chance to make up your grade with other assignments. It’s also a good idea to visit instructors (virtually or in-person) during their office hours to get more guidance and ask questions.

7. It may be harder to get a 4.0.

You may have been #1 in your high school class, but when you get to college, you’ll be learning alongside hundreds or thousands of other excellent students, many of who also earned 4.0s. This will serve as a rude awakening for some, who are used to being the best in the class. And, because there’s no extra credit for advanced classes, you could dip below a 4.0 for earning a couple of A-’s and B+’s. That’s okay! It’s extraordinarily difficult to earn a 4.0 in college, especially if you’re attending a highly rigorous one.

8. It’s even more important to build relationships with instructors.

Developing strong relationships with teachers was important in high school for several reasons, including the fact that they’re the ones to write your college recommendation letters . In college, it’s even more critical to get to know your instructors.

For one, if you apply to graduate school or for fellowships, you’ll need faculty recommendations. Even you don’t, faculty can serve as lifelong mentors to previous students. And research shows that having an encouraging mentor increases your chances of engagement and success in work and life.

9. You will need to seek help on your own.

In high school, you may have had teachers reach out to you when you were struggling. But in college, you’ll need to be proactive about reaching out for help on your own. Sure, some professors might notice that you’re having trouble, especially in small classes, but usually, you’ll need to be the one to make the effort, whether that means going to office hours, emailing a question, or setting up a separate time to talk.

The good news is that many instructors will readily help you when you ask. They may even look more favorably upon you for being proactive and acknowledging that you need support. This is also a good way to share reasons why you’re having trouble, such as extra pandemic-related responsibilities at home. Your professor could be more willing to cut you some slack once they understand.

Social Life

1. you’ll have greater independence living away from home..

True, some students commute. But if you live on-campus, you’ll enjoy plenty of newfound independence, from what you eat to when you go to bed. 

Be careful, though. You’ll likely find that you’ll need some kind of structure in your life, and it will have to be self-imposed — no one else is setting limits for you. An alarm is your friend. So is a schedule. Plus, you’ll also be responsible for doing more chores, such as laundry and cleaning.

2. There will be frequent events.

From speakers to club meetings and events to parties to concerts, there will be plenty to do on campus. While you may not have had to scramble to find ways to spend your time in high school, in many cases, there will be far more options in college.

3. You won’t have to travel far to see your friends.

Some of them might live in your dorm — or even be your roommates! Even those who don’t live in your building will be closeby, and you’ll share meals, activities, and more with them.

4. You’ll have more options for clubs and organizations to join.

Many colleges and organizations have clubs and organizations for practically any interest: arts, sports, religion, politics, activism, journalism, cultural heritage, and much more. And if you can’t find the club you’re looking for, you may even have the option of starting it yourself.

5. You’ll need to remind yourself to take time to enjoy yourself sometimes.

College is hard. With all the work you have to do, it can be easy to get caught up in studying. Of course, you should study — but don’t forget to enjoy yourself, too. College goes by quickly, and you don’t want to miss out on a great experience.

How to Find the Best-Fit College

Adjusting to college takes time and effort, but it helps if you find the right fit school for you. This depends on numerous factors, such as size, location, and the availability of your unique program.

Once you find the perfect fit, how do you know if you have a good chance of getting in? CollegeVine’s free chancing engine will estimate your real odds of admission to hundreds of colleges and universities all over the country — and offer tips to improve your profile. Give it a try to streamline your college strategy!

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6 Differences between High School and College Writing

• Last modified 2024-03-18
• Published on 2021-03-27

There are differences between high school and college writing. While in high school, teachers provide extensive guidelines and rules to guide students throughout the writing process. However, when writing in college, professors don’t generally provide a set structure that students should follow when planning and writing their essays. It is important to unlearn the rules from high school to meet the expectations of university writing. This allows students to be successful in developing strong argumentative writing skills and a more mature style of writing.  

1. Essay Structure

High School: In terms of essay structure, high school teachers recommend students to follow the five-paragraph or five-point essay structure including: an introduction, three main points, and a conclusion. The essay begins and ends with something general, with the introduction leading to the discussion of specifics, and then branches out to more general comments at the end. A typical five-paragraph essay normally allows the form to control the content, rather than letting the content control the form. As each paragraph is assigned a purpose, and students are required to fit their content into each and every paragraph. This structure indirectly guides students to limit their analysis to only three main points, leading to an effort to tailor and reduce other important points that might be critical to the development of the essay.   

College: For college essay writing, there is no predetermined number of points the essay must include. Since the topics of discussion in college writing are more complex compared to high school essays, students can have as many paragraphs as needed to express their opinions and viewpoints. The reason why five-paragraph essays don’t typically work in college writing is also that they lack flow. The style of listing the arguments allows the writer to treat each paragraph and its main idea as a separate entity, rather than connecting them together while forming an argument. College writing assignments focus on analyzing and interpreting the topic, so the professors will expect you to know the facts and make an argument. This style of writing is vastly different from high school writing.  

2. Paragraphs

High School: In high school essays, when the main arguments are narrowed down to specific paragraphs, students are recommended to begin with a topic sentence that reflects the thesis statement and introduces the intended idea. Then, each paragraph should end with a conclusion that reiterates the point in the topic sentence or end with a transitional sentence introducing the next paragraph. The following paragraphs follow a similar structure.  

College:   Compared to high school essays, college professors expect students to not limit themselves when expressing their ideas . Depending on the idea and evidence provided in the essay, paragraphs can range anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of a page. College writing typically has fewer restrictions on paragraph length and content, because college writing’s sole purpose is to ask students to provide analysis, evidence, highlights, etc., to satisfy their points. The only similarity in paragraphs between high school and college writing is that the beginning of the paragraph comes with a topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the paragraph, then moves on to provide arguments and supporting claims. This new structure in college writing allows for more coherent and clear paragraphs.  

However, it’s unusual for college essays to have a concluding sentence in considering the structure. Because college instructors have extensive experience in reading long research papers and complicated essays, students shouldn’t repeat the topic sentence at the end of paragraphs. Instead, students can use this space to complete their evidence and analysis to support the topic. Great writing abilities allow students to complete the analysis and ease the readers to each paragraph, without writing a transition. 

3. Thesis statement

High School: As discussed above, in the thesis statement for high school writing, students are strongly encouraged to end the opening paragraph with a thesis statement that should be one sentence in length.  There are some nuances between thesis statements and topic sentences; therefore, students normally form a general thesis statement that may resemble a topic sentence. Moreover, the thesis statement should be supported by three main points. A typical example of “listing” of the argument in high school writing is

“I will show how the Romans lost their empire in Britain and Gaul by examining military technology, religion, and politics.” ( UNC )

College: In college writing, the opening paragraph can end with a thesis statement, but this is not a hard requirement for college writing. Due to the complexity of topics, the thesis statement isn’t usually supported by three main points, since there can be more than three when discussing the topics covered in the paper. Furthermore, a thesis statement can be two to three sentences long, because it needs to be developed and complex rather than restating the topic sentence. An example of a typical thesis statement seen in college writing is

“The Romans lost their empire in Britain and Gaul because their opponents’ military technology caught up with their own at the same time as religious upheaval and political conflict was weakening the sense of common purpose on the home front”.  ( UNC )

4. Introduction and Conclusion

High School: Remember when your high school teacher said your introduction should be general and broad to hook the reader in, before narrowing it down to specific points? The teacher may also have said the conclusion should provide a summary of the main points discussed in the paper. This style of writing an introduction and conclusion is quite common in high school, because the teachers are trying to help students think in a more structured and logical way, since you can easily fall into the rabbit hole of discussing arguments that may not be relatable to the topic.  

College: However, in college writing, professors prefer you to be straight to the point. Once receiving the writing prompt, students are expected to specify their arguments in concrete terms, rather than just simply paraphrasing the topic and the facts. The conclusion is there for a reason. Rather than summarizing what was earlier in the essay, which the reader is already aware of, students should spend more time refining the conclusion to reflect the topic to a personal story, raise a question of curiosity, or offer important insights for further discussion, etc.  

5. Arguments

High School: We’ve seen for argumentative essays, even on the SAT, teachers recommend students to stick to one side or the other when making an argument, in order to best provide examples and evidence to support their claims. The ability to bring up two opposing points and counter argue is challenging for students who did not receive extensive writing training. Additionally, arguments high school students make are frequently based on personal experience or opinion, since they may not know enough about the subject to make a strong and convincing argument.  

College: In college, evidence is key. Professors expect a claim that encourages them to keep reading.  Argumentative essays should be supported by strong evidence from scholarly and journal sources, as students have spent a considerable amount of time learning about facts and also research sources that support or oppose their arguments. As the legendary engineer Edwards Deming said “’Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” In addition to requiring students to provide specific arguments with claims, college professors also expect students to think about “limits and objections to [their] claim” since all interesting claims can be “reasonably challenged.” An essay that addresses counter-arguments along with the supporting arguments is considered strong and persuasive. The University of Chicago’s guide to writing mentions students should think of presenting arguments similar to “ an amiable and lively conversation with someone whom you respect and who respects you; someone who is interested in what you have to say, but will not agree with your claims just because you state them; someone who wants to hear your reasons for believing your claims and also wants to hear answers to their questions.”

High School : Formatting is required for many high school essays, especially with research or argumentative essays. High school teachers normally introduce the style guide standards such as the MLA and APA, because they are simpler and easier to instruct compared to other style guides.  

Style guides are loosely required in high school, because the focus of the essay is to teach students how to form arguments, how to provide evidence, and how to write an easy-to-follow essay . In addition, topics in high school are typically less complicated than in college; therefore, students are not required to do a profound research for understanding the subject matter.  

College : However, in college writing, formatting and citations take up a significant amount of the grade for a research paper . Different professors may have different formatting requirements, varying from Chicago to AMA to APA. Otherwise, papers may be marked down if formatting guidelines are not met. Professors will provide this information in the syllabus, or before each research paper project. There are numerous websites and resources online and in your college’s library that will make the citation and formatting process easier and faster, such as Citation Machine . 

Students will learn the nuances of language, including figurative language, effective structuring, and specific forms to apply to their own piece(s). Students will work directly with both literary and media texts to plan and write their piece(s). This class will also help the students write with an aim for an audience as their submission for nation-wide and international writing competitions that are timely with the course schedule.

This course helps students develop and improve their writing skills to prepare students for higher education courses. The methodology emphasizes the ability to read critically, think critically, and write critically. Students will learn informative, narrative, descriptive, creative, and persuasive essay writing skills. Students will learn how to brainstorm, structure and outline, form an argument, defend it, incorporate academic sources, and develop a clear, articulate writing style. The focus will be on the writing process, intended audience, consistent tenses, point of view, correct grammar uses, building vocabulary, appropriate style, and proper research and citation protocols.

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High School vs. College: Differences Essay

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High school and college are both educational systems meant to help us learn more about history, sciences, math, and help us develop social skills we will need when we join the workforce. But for all the similarities the educational institutions share, they have highly contrasting end results. In my opinion, high school is the basis upon which the solid foundation of our college lives shall be based upon. College then serves as the jumping board for the responsible adults that we finally evolve into. That is why the educational systems have markedly different teaching and learning styles.

High school and college are fun times that we experience during our stint in the educational system. But, the kind of fun that we have to vary on different levels due to the responsibilities entailed as a person. In high school, we have a lot of fun socially, because we are teenagers who are newly experiencing what life has to offer. We are young and carefree and have enough time on our hands to fulfill our educational obligations as well as our social needs. In college, however, we are now young adults who are experiencing the newfound freedom of being on our own for the first time and making our own decisions that will affect our future. Both times allow us to mature as individuals, to a certain degree.

Education-wise, high school is the time for us to ponder our strengths and weaknesses as students and to realize what our potential future occupation might be. In other words, we lay the foundation, the groundwork if you may, for our college education. For some students, high school is not really that much fun because of the way the educational system dictates what we learn, how we learn it and grades us according to our perceived academic strengths and weaknesses. We learn what we have force-fed information because most subjects could be of no interest to us because what we learn in high school will help us decide on our ambitions and future college courses. But, the forced feeding then poses a degree of difficulty when it comes to learning and/or excelling within any particular learning area. College, on the other hand, offers a much more engaging and enjoyable academic experience due to the fact that we are more in control of our education.

College is the first step towards fulfilling our lifelong ambitions and dreams. This time, we choose the subject we want to study and concentrate on an academic area that interests us or that we excel in. The grades this time around are based upon how much time and effort we put into what academically interests us as students. High school was the dry run for our future young adult lives. We learned the rudimentary social skills that will help us deal with the diverse personalities that shall be part of our lives when we enter college. On the other hand, college life is our jumping board as full-fledged adults. We learn the art of negotiation and social blending. We also learn the skills that we will need in order to succeed in our chosen occupation upon graduation.

I, therefore, repeat my previous statement that high school and college are different due to the end results that are produced. High school is the time that the child is separating from the young adult while college is that time in our lives when the young adult is slowly emerging as an improved version of his younger self. If you want more proof of what I am saying, take the time to talk to your parents about their high school and college experiences. Then ask them the same questions I posed above. I am sure you will be amazed at the imaginative answers you will receive from them.

• Academic Achievements: Requirements and Goals
• Preparation for Exam Recommenfations
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• Deviant Behavior in the Public Space
• Child Growth and Development Observation
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• Student Evaluations of Courses at University of Houston-Downtown
• Observations of Children’s Mathematical Skills
• A Comparative Analysis of Educational Tourism Between Chinese and British Students
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 5 ways college application essays and high school essays are different.

Are you a high school junior? Your college application is probably your first experience writing a personal statement. From purpose to audience, here’s a quick run-down of how college essays are different than the essays you write for English class. 

High School Essay vs College Essay

1. understand purpose.

A high school essay generally demonstrates to your teacher what you know. An application essay should demonstrate who you are. Colleges want to find out what you're passionate about, and what you would add to the campus community.

2. Know your Audience

When your English teacher grades your essays, she puts them into the context of every interaction she’s ever had with you. Your personal statement is your one chance to speak directly to the admissions committee and demonstrate who you are beyond grades and test scores . Help colleges learn something about you that they cannot discover when reading the rest of your application. (Tip: Don’t treat your essay like a resume !)

Read More: Get Expert Essay Advice From Former Admissions Officers!

3. Show, Don't Summarize

College essay topics are often open-ended. (“Recount a time when you experienced failure.“) But at heart, all college essays are asking you to demonstrate the same things: your ability to reflect and think critically. Summaries are fine for book reports, but when writing your college essay take the opportunity to really examine how an experience taught you something you didn't previously know about yourself, got you out of your comfort zone, or forced you to grow.

4. Authenticity is Key

On a high school essay, it's generally not appropriate to use the first-person. Not only is it fine to make “I” statements in your application essays, but colleges expect your essays to sound like you, too!  Always be yourself in your application, not the candidate you think admissions committees want to see.

5. Originality Counts

When your teacher asks you to analyze the causes of the Civil War, he is going to receive a lot of essays that sound basically the same. But your college essay should be unique and individual to you. College admissions officers tell us that they see many essays about eye-opening travel experiences, the death of a loved one, or “The Big Game.” You can still write about these experiences, but the trick is in the details. No one sees the world quite the way you do, so let your personality shine through.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — College — High School Vs College: Compare and Contrast

High School Vs College: Compare and Contrast

• Categories: College High School

About this sample

Words: 785 |

Updated: 4 December, 2023

Words: 785 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Video Version

Hook Examples for “High School Vs College” Essay

• A Student’s Journey: As students transition from the familiar hallways of high school to the uncharted territory of college campuses, they embark on a transformative journey. Explore the differences that define this educational evolution.
• Two Worlds Collide: Imagine straddling the line between two worlds – the structured environment of high school and the newfound independence of college life. This essay unveils the unique challenges and opportunities that lie at this intersection.
• The Freshman Experience: Meet Sarah, a recent high school graduate taking her first steps into college life. Her story encapsulates the excitement and apprehension that every freshman faces when making the transition.
• Voices of Wisdom: From the perspective of educators, this essay shares insights from seasoned teachers and professors who have witnessed the evolution of their students. Discover what they have to say about the changes in students’ academic lives.
• A Tale of Two Curricula: What happens to the syllabus when you move from high school to college? Explore the differences in academic rigor, teaching methods, and expectations that define these two distinct stages of education.

Works Cited

• Chen, H., & Kuh, G. D. (2016). Student engagement and student learning: Testing the linkages. Research in Higher Education, 57(2), 153-181.
• Eccles, J. S., & Templeton, J. (2002). Extracurricular and other after-school activities for youth. Review of Research in Education, 26(1), 113-180.
• Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. T. (2005). How college affects students: A third decade of research (Vol. 2). Jossey-Bass.
• Raby, R. L., & Valeau, E. J. (2018). College as a turning point: Revisiting the myth. The Journal of Higher Education, 89(5), 661-687.
• Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
• Perna, L. W. (2006). Studying college access and choice: A proposed conceptual model. In J. C. Smart (Ed.), Higher education: Handbook of theory and research (Vol. 21, pp. 99-157). Springer.
• National Survey of Student Engagement. (n.d.). NSSE Annual Results. Retrieved from https://nsse.indiana.edu/annual-results/index.cfm
• Roksa, J., & Arum, R. (2011). Academically adrift: Limited learning on college campuses. University of Chicago Press.
• Umbach, P. D. (2007). How effective are they? Exploring the impact of contingent faculty on undergraduate education. The Review of Higher Education, 30(2), 91-123.
• Inkelas, K. K., Daver, Z. E., Vogt, K. E., & Leonard, J. B. (2007). Living–learning programs and first-generation college students’ academic and social transition to college. Research in Higher Education, 48(4), 403-434.

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How Different Are College and High School? (Hint: Very)

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Can college really be that different from high school?

I mean, there are classes, textbooks, extracurricular activities, and other students. It sounds a lot like high school to me.

These were the thoughts that ran through my head in the weeks leading up to my departure from my hometown of St. Louis, MO, for Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. I didn’t know a soul at my future school, nor did I have an older sibling to tell me what to expect in college. So, when August rolled around, I pulled up to campus with lots of boxes and no idea what to expect.

Fast forward four years: I survived college, graduated with honors, and landed a job. Now, I want to pay it forward to the next generation of college students (you) with this primer on the differences between high school and college. Maybe you don’t have anybody to bounce ideas off of. Or maybe you’re just looking for a fresh perspective. Either way, this is for you.

I divided this article into two main sections: academics and lifestyle. Each section contains five important differences between high school and college. By the end, you’ll be prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

High School vs. College: Academic Differences

Nobody said college would be easy, but knowing what to expect during your first semester of classes will give you an edge over the students going in without a clue . Here are five major academic differences to expect when you make the transition from high school to college.

1. Time Spent in Class

Your high school class schedule is probably comparable to a full-time job: you’re in the building for about seven hours each day. In college, however, you can expect to spend half that time in class. As a full-time college student, you’ll only spend three or four hours each day in class, which comes out to about 15-20 hours per week.

This might seem like a vacation at first, but there’s a catch: your professors will cram as much material as they can into each class (which can range from 50 minutes to three hours). What’s more, those time gaps will force you to manage your time effectively. You might think you have all the time in the world, but deadlines in college creep up quickly.

2. Workload

I’ll be the first one to admit that I skated by in high school without doing a ton of work. I could squeak out decent grades by skimming books and cramming material the morning of a test. If an assignment was due on a Wednesday, I’d have no problem knocking it out on a Tuesday night.

That all changed in college.

I quickly learned that 15 hours of class time each week doesn’t mean 15 hours of work. You’ll spend a fraction of the time in a physical classroom in college compared to high school. But that extra time takes the form of homework, essays, research, and group projects.

The good thing about college is that you’ll receive a syllabus outlining each assignment and test for the entire semester. So while the workload increases exponentially, you also have plenty of time to prepare yourself.

3. Textbooks

In high school, your textbooks are provided to you at little to no cost. The only decision you have to make is whether you’ll read them or not.

College, on the other hand, is the Wild West of textbooks. Your professor will tell you which books you’ll need, and then it’s up to you how you get them (unless they require you to buy one of those horrible books with a digital access code, forcing you to buy it new).

Let’s be real: textbook publishers don’t care what you learn—they want to make money off book sales. That being said, there’s a variety of ways to outsmart the industry, saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the course of your time in college.

Luckily for you, we have an entire article dedicated to textbook hunting: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Cheap Textbooks .

4. Opportunities to Boost Your Grade

One of the worst feelings in college is having to knock on your professor’s door during the last week of the semester to ask for extra credit. Maybe you’re 0.2% away from an A or even 0.2% away from passing the class. Either way, the best way to avoid this dilemma is to get ahead of your GPA as early as possible in the semester.

In high school, there are many opportunities to keep your grade afloat: daily homework assignments, weekly quizzes, extra credit, test revisions, maybe even credit just for showing up to class.

Unfortunately, most of these opportunities don’t exist in college.

I took several classes where I could count the entire semester’s assignments on one hand. I even had a philosophy class where the only grades were a midterm and a final exam. At first, this was a relief: no homework! The catch was, of course, I only had two chances to earn a good grade.

I knew plenty of students who didn’t realize this, and they were the ones knocking on the professor’s door around finals time. There’s no easy solution to this other than showing up every day, taking notes , and studying effectively.

Struggling to choose a college? This guide will help you out .

High School vs. College: Lifestyle Differences

You’ll spend the vast majority of your time in college outside the classroom. Accordingly, here are five important lifestyle changes to be prepared for when you make the transition from high school to college.

1. Dorm Life

As an only child, I was hesitant to live with three guys I’d never met in my entire life. But as I look back on my four years, I can’t help but notice how dorm life was one of the most fun and transformative parts of my college experience.

Of all the differences between high school and college, living in a dorm is definitely the most drastic—but it’s a change for the better.

Much like you’ll learn all sorts of challenging material in the classroom, living among your peers in close quarters helps you learn the art of social intelligence (which is arguably more important for long-term success than academics).

You may have heard horror stories about unbearable roommates or less-than-sanitary communal bathrooms. There is no foolproof way to prevent these issues. But if you do end up having to deal with them, keep this in mind: it’s all a learning experience .

Dorm life will teach you all sorts of things you didn’t know about yourself, such as your organizational preferences and how well you deal with domestic conflicts. It’s like a practice round for the real world. This might sound stressful, but after a few weeks, you’ll be settled in. All you need to do is enjoy the ride.

Just don’t set the fire alarm off. Especially not at 2 am on a Sunday. People hate that.

For more advice about how to live in the dorms, check out our guide to living on your own .

2. Social Life

Think of making friends in college like an athlete making the transition to the pros: people can talk all day about what the athlete accomplished before the pros, but all that matters is what happens on gameday. Similarly, college is an opportunity to create the social life you want. It doesn’t matter who you were in high school — in college, everyone starts from scratch.

The friends you make in college will be some of your best friends for life. I cringed while I typed that because it’s so cliche, but it’s 100 percent true. I don’t believe in formulas for making friends, but I do have one piece of advice to help you navigate the social scene:

First, establish your core group of friends: those three or four people that you can count on to have your back no matter what. Once you do this, start forming friendships with people from as many other social groups as possible: athletes, computer scientists, and everyone in between.

These friendships don’t need to be as deep as your core friendships — it’s simply the exposure to different types of people that will make you more well-rounded than the students who confine themselves to social bubbles.

I ran track during my first two years at Xavier (until I stepped away due to injuries ) and found my core friends on the team. But I also made friends with writers, partiers, and athletes on other teams. Not only did this enrich my social experience, but it  also broadened my worldview.

Side note: don’t forget about your high school friends — be grateful for them and nurture the connections worth keeping. But don’t let your ties to them limit your opportunities in college.

3. Time Management

Time management in college is a catch-22: you’ll have more independence than you’ve ever had, but you’ll also need to shoulder more responsibilities than you did in high school.

Right now, there’s a good chance your daily schedule is largely decided by your parents, coaches, or teachers. In college, however, all of that control shifts over to you. That includes scheduling classes, meals, workouts , grocery shopping, and even your sleep schedule .

To make this transition easy, create a simple weekly calendar that outlines all of your to-dos. This way, you’ll be in control of your time instead of having to react to all of your tasks on an hour-to-hour basis.

4. Money, Money, Money

Being broke is one of the most common stereotypes associated with college students, but I’m here to tell you: it doesn’t have to be that way .

The most reliable job I had in college was working as a valet at a local hotel: part-time hours, tips, and the opportunity to meet plenty of fascinating people. Did it require a couple 5 a.m. wake up calls? Sure, but sacrificing a few hours of sleep always beats having to borrow money from friends or family.

One of the most exciting parts about transitioning from high school to college is that your opportunities to earn money expand significantly. In fact, we created this guide that outlines more than 100 ways to make money in college .

Unless you have an endless stream of money coming into your bank account, you need that resource.

You may have heard about the freshman fifteen: those extra pounds that students pack on during their first couple semesters in college. While some students think this is unavoidable, it’s really more of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Students will hear stories about how difficult or expensive it is to stay on top of their diet and exercise. Next thing they know, they accept that gaining weight is just part of their transition into college.

I beg to differ.

Getting fit in college may require a different approach than you’re taking in high school, but that’s certainly not an excuse to throw in the towel on your health (which is equally, if not more, important than your studies.)

In terms of exercise, club sports, intramurals, or group exercise classes are effective substitutes for the ways you stayed active in high school. They’re also a surefire way to meet new people.

As far as diet goes, you’re not limited to pizza delivery or cafeteria food. In fact, making your own healthy meals is almost always cheaper than a university meal plan or eating out. For more on that, check out this guide to affording healthy food in college .

Knowing Is Half the Battle

As you can see, there’s no shortage of differences between high school and college. But understanding what’s on the horizon will give you the perspective you need to prepare and put yourself in a position to succeed. Sure, you’ll face challenges — but that’s all part of the process.

Soon enough, you’ll be sharing your own experiences with soon-to-be college students.

Photo credits: featured

The Difference Between High School and College Essays

Jessica rutland.

The transition from high school to college can be challenging in many ways. College professors frequently complain about the lack of college readiness that entering freshman have, specifically when it comes to writing, says Stanford University’s college success blog, The College Puzzle. The high school essay differs from the college version in several ways, and learning those differences is key to writing successfully in college.

Explore this article

• Structural Differences
• Making an Argument
• Writing to the Audience
• Length Matters
• Rewriting to a Different Standard

1 Structural Differences

Instruction on how to write high school essays usually involves adapting a topic to a basic essay structure: an introduction where the thesis is stated, a number -- usually three -- of paragraphs that each give an example that argues for the thesis, and a conclusion where the argument paragraphs are summarized and the thesis is restated. In college essays, the trick isn’t adapting a topic to an essay structure, but developing structure around the topic. Content is king in the college essay, and the structure of the essay should be adapted to the topic rather than the other way around.

2 Making an Argument

High school essays usually feature a one-sided presentation of a topic, where examples are given to reinforce the side chosen, and the conclusion to the essay is much the same as the intro, where the thesis is restated. College essays tend to be more like a conversation. The essay does not have to be as one-sided. Two arguments on the same topic may be examined for their strengths and weaknesses.

3 Writing to the Audience

High school essays tend to be written with a general audience in mind. These essays are usually written so that almost anyone could read and understand the essay and its topic. College essays, however, are written for a specific audience -- usually the professor. When writing an essay for a college class, the writer can make basic assumptions as to the knowledge that the essay’s reader, the professor or teacher’s assistant, already has rather than explain all concepts for a general audience. But this isn’t always the case, and the best way to figure out what kind of audience to write for in college is simply to ask your professor.

4 Length Matters

One of the biggest differences between high school essays and college essays is length. High school essays generally range from 500 to 1,000 words, or two to four pages. College classes may ask for essays more than 10 pages in length. This may seem like a challenging transition, but college essays also allow for a number of sources to be used, and the arguments found in college essays generally go into much more depth, which requires more writing.

5 Rewriting to a Different Standard

Many writers have said that writing is rewriting. High school essays are usually rewritten with the intention of clearing up grammar and punctuation mistakes, but rewriting a college essay is a bit more complicated. When rewriting a high school essay, students should look for basic errors and ways to clean structure where unclear. When rewriting a college essay, students should try to make the pacing and flow of the essay as consistent as possible, check for weaknesses in their arguments, examine word choices and sentence structure, and make the essay as readable as possible. Rewriting the college essay isn’t just a spell check -- it’s a reworking of the essay to make sure the writing is at its best.

• 1 Stanford University: The College Puzzle -- Secondary School Writing Teachers Need A New Job Structure To Enhance College Readiness

About the Author

Jessica Rutland lives in Austin, Texas, where she has worked as a copywriter and editor for two years. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas.

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29+ Differences between High School and College

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

If you’re like I was, you’ll probably feel the excitement of jumping into College or University. It’ll feel like jumping into an inspiring new world.

But it can’ also be intimidating.

What are the differences between high school and college? In this post I’ll take a look at this matchup: High School vs College.

A quick note on language:

• I’m using the words ‘college’ and ‘university’ to mean the same thing here (Sorry British readers, I know they’re different things to you!)
• I’m using the word ‘professor’ here. In Britain, Australia and New Zealand you’ll know your professor as a ‘lecturer’. Basically, they’re the same thing.

Alright here are the top 29 differences between college vs high school. I’ve sorted it by things you’ll find in College that are different to High School:

1. Attendance is not Compulsory

The first strange thing you’ll notice when comparing high school vs college is that at college there isn’t a teacher breathing down your neck. They won’t be hovering there asking you where you were that day you didn’t make it to class?

In fact, as a professor myself, I personally don’t really care if you miss a class or two.

Sure, I’ll start getting annoyed if you don’t attend all the classes and I might drop you an email asking what’s up. But I’m not going to be going out of my way to chase you down.

I’ve recommended in this post that you drop your professor an email if you won’t attend to be polite.

Welcome to adulthood.

2. There is way Less Class Time

This is mostly true, and definitely true if you’re in the humanities or social sciences .

In all universities I’ve taught at, the full-time student course load is around 12 – 18 hours of classes per week.

This means that you’ll probably have classes about 3 days per week for about 4 hours for each of those days. You might have a timetable that has 2 hours in the morning, 4 hours off, then 2 hours in the evening.

The freedom will feel amazing!

I think I’d better add a caveat:

Some courses have a lot of lab work or requirements for 9 – 5 classes. Sorry, you should have done a humanities degree!

3. Independent Study

Even though you’ll probably have a lot more free time in college than high school, you’ll also have a lot of homework!

And it’s not the sort of homework where you do a few assigned quizzes then get on with your life.

It will be reading. A lot of reading. And then you’ll be expected to do even more reading, or listening to podcasts, or watching videos.

Why? Well, because …

Your job is to be genuinely interested in learning. Your job is to go out there and develop your own expertise on the topic.

Then, come to class and share what you’ve learned independently.

Your teacher might assign a few texts to read, but they’re not going to hold your hand. You’ll be expected to just be out there constantly absorbing information.

4. Lectures are Huge

I remember the first time I sat in a lecture I was so excited. It felt like I had made it, finally, to this magical place!

You’ll be in big rooms with between 80 and 200 students all sitting there, starting at the lecturer out the front.

Lectures require you to sit and take notes while an expert stands out the front and delivers a talk for between 1 and 3 hours.

The lecturer won’t be asking you to contribute usually. They will expect you to listen, observe and silently think about their ideas.

To learn more about what learning in a lecture is like, take a look at my post on the differences in learning between lectures vs. seminars .

5. You won’t be Reminded to do Things

In high school your teacher is constantly nagging you about when things are due, what to do that week and even what extracurricular activities to be involved in! While you may find some really involved university professors who do this, many just deliver the content and go home.

So when you’ve got something due or homework to do, don’t expect to be reminded about it! You need to be actively checking your emails and your course’s online portal (usually on a Learning Management System like Canvas, Blackboard or Moodle). That’s where the information about what to do will be posted!

6. Your Parents have Zero Involvement

Don’t expect your parents to have any involvement with your learning!

You’re and adult now – all on your own.

Your parents won’t be meeting with your professor or having any contact with the university at all. They probably will only step foot on the campus twice – on orientation day, and on graduation day!

7. The Professors are Aloof

University professors aren’t only teachers. In fact, many of them aren’t mainly employed for teaching. They’re employed to conduct research!

So your class is just one of many, many commitments they have throughout the day.

They’re also rarely well trained in educational theory. They often fall into a teaching role after long careers elsewhere.

This means you’ll find that your professors are aloof. They’ll come to class, deliver the learning materials, then disappear to their very active research and writing careers.

This means you’ll be doing a lot of independent study (see Point 3).

8. Your Lecturers are Experts

You will likely come across some people who have good reputations in their industry. Your teacher may have written the definitive textbook on your topic. Or, they may have invented something that made them well known!

Most professors also have PhDs which signify their unique contributions to their field of study.

University professors are employed for their expertise. This means that at times it’s a great privilege to be there to listen to people right at the peak of their field.

Sometimes you’ll also get guest lecturers come in because of their expertise.

But the bad side of this is that sometimes they’re not great teachers – being bright is not the same as being a good communicator!

9. You’re Treated as an Equal

In high school you’re often treated very condescendingly by your teachers.

I went to a high school where I had to wear a uniform right up to the very last day.

It’s a surprise when you’ll come across professors who don’t discipline you or look down their noses at your behavior.

It’s an even bigger surprise when they become your friends!

Something else nice about this more equal relationship is the professors don’t feel like they need to babysit you. If classes end early, they’ll just tell you to go home! There’s no waiting around for the bell to ring here…

10. You Control your Timetable

This is definitely one of the best parts about university.

At high school, you don’t really have much of a choice about how your timetable is set out. It’s also usually packed with learning.

But at university you’ll usually be able to cater your own timetable. There will be a range of seminars and you’ll be able to select the one that suits your life best.

Similarly, you’ll often be able to elect which subjects you want to learn.

Of course, this depends on your course: some courses are cohort-based. Some of my friends had these courses and they didn’t have a choice: they had to do classes 9-5 Monday to Friday. Sucks to be them. But, for the most part in BA and B.Sc degrees, you’ll get to pick and choose your timetable to create your own unique degree.

11. Your Papers are Very Long

Say goodbye to a 500-word essay that you can write quickly the night before it’s due.

You’ll probably start out with an essay that’s at minimum 1000 words, but this will rapidly grow to 3000, 4000, and even 5000-word essays on your topics!

This means you need to start your essays early and dig deep to keep on writing drafts on a regular basis if you want good grades.

Or … you know, pull a few all-nighters.

12. You have to use Scholarly Sources

Say goodbye to Google!

Instead, you’ll have to look through a ton of ‘scholarly sources’ to get your information.

Scholarly sources are:

• Journal Articles
• Reports by Think Tanks

There’s a few more than this, and you can read about all 7 Scholarly Sources in my post on them here .

But, the fact of the matter is that you need to show that you got your information from an expert. You can’t reference blogs or websites anymore!

To learn how to find scholarly sources, check my post on 9 Places to find free Scholarly Sources Online .

13. You’ve got to use strict Referencing Styles

Most of my students come to university having done a little bit of referencing, but in high school they don’t take it quite as seriously as we do at university.

At university level, we don’t use bibliographies either. We use reference lists. Here’s a post on the differences between reference lists and bibliographies from the official APA Style blog.

But basically, you need to reference scholarly sources (see Point 12) in just about every paragraph of your essays to show where you got your sources from!

Here are the most common referencing styles:

• Chicago Style
• Harvard Style

I have a detailed article on how to reference at university here if you’re curious about what’s expected.

14. You Get a Sweet Student ID Discount

Week 1, Day 1 at university, make sure you get your hands on your Student ID. It gets you discounts all around the world! It’s definitely not something you should be missing out on.

From movie tickets to train rides to clothes, you’ll get to soak up big savings. Retailers love to attract university students into their stores with special offers and discounts just for you.

15. No One Cares if you Fail

Nope. No one cares.

Your professor won’t come up to you and try to offer you one-to-one tutoring and mentoring. They’re too busy!

The simple idea is this: It’s your job to succeed. And if you’re not succeeding, well, you need to find a way to solve that problem yourself! (Which is why many people quit in the first year).

16. You’ll be Kicked Out of your Class if you’re a Nuisance

There’s nothing stopping your professor from turning to you if you’re chatting to much and saying “get out.” And that’s it. You’ve got to leave, buddy.

I have done this on many an occasion.

It’s usually during lectures that I do this. Students are chatting when I’m talking? Heck no I’m not going to tolerate that. I don’t do ‘classroom management’. You’re adults now! It’s your responsibility to self-regulate.

17. It’s your Job to keep Class Discussions Going

Some seminar discussions can be really awkward!

Because the teacher will often just sit there and wait for someone to say something. Yep, they’ll say “Over to you. What are your thoughts?”

This is really intimidating at first. I see my students sitting there like … ummm … are you going to teach us anything?

But a seminar is about student-led discussions . It’s your job to come to class ready to share your ideas and opinions.

And if no one in the class is willing to talk, then you’ll be sitting in silence. Fun.

18. Classes Start at Random Hours

I mean random.

I remember when I was timetabled for a 6pm class once and I was like … what!? Isn’t there a 9-5 deal?

8am class? You’re there. 7pm class? You’re there, too.

Most classes fortunately are at reasonable times. But man, I hate early class. I try so hard to avoid classes that start before 11am. I need my sleep, damnit!

19. You can Work for your Professor

Keep an eye out for on-campus jobs.

There are a lot of jobs that are offered in the libraries and cafes on campus.

But there are also jobs offered directly by research professors. They’ll hire you to conduct research and literature reviews on their projects. In fact, they’re given funding to hire you!

This is a pretty good way to get to know your professors and get a good job listed on your resume.

20. College will Cost you Money

University is expensive. Real expensive .

And it’s not just the degree itself.

It’s costs that go on and on.

You’ll likely have to pay for your own rent, transport, etc. when at university unless you’ve got kind parents! You’ll also probably be forking out cash for textbooks.

But there’s more.

Most university students go into debt. And that sticks around for a long, long time.

I’m still in college debt in my 30s. And the interest keeps racking up.

Yep, college is EXPENSIVE!

21. You Actually Have to do the Readings

When your teacher in high school says to do your homework, they’ll nag and nag you to do it.

And if you don’t do it, well maybe you’ll get a slap across the wrist. Maybe even you’ll get a punishment like a detention.

Not at university.

I mean, firstly, the idea of giving a student at college ‘detention’ is laughable. You can’t do that to adults!

But secondly, if you don’t do the readings, well you’ll just fall behind and your punishment will simply be that you’ll likely fail your degree.

You’ll also be pretty embarrassed in class when your teacher asks you questions and you’ve got nothing to contribute.

22. You’ll Fail for Plagiarizing. Straight Away.

Plagiarism is when you copy someone else’s work and pretend it’s your own.

And is a big deal at university.

We have some pretty complicated software nowadays to catch people out for plagiarizing. And if you’re caught out a few things will happen:

• You may have to sit in front of a committee of professors to explain yourself;
• You may fail your subject (and not get your money back!);
• You may be kicked out of the university.

So, simply, don’t do it. You’ll need to learn to paraphrase .

23. Don’t Ask to Go to the Bathroom. Just Go.

Okay this one’s pretty funny.

Sometimes students in their first few classes put their hands up to ask to go to the bathroom.

It always shocks me and reminds me just how young my students are – they still don’t see themselves as adults!

So, don’t ask to go to the bathroom. You’re an adult. Just find a quiet moment to shuffle out for 5 minutes. Everyone will be fine that you had to pop out for a moment, because you’re an adult and it’s not anyone’s job to micromanage you . You can do that. It’s fine.

24. You’re with Random Strangers A Lot

You’ll often find that the people you’re with in one class are totally different to the people you’re with in the next.

This can be fun sometimes: there’s always a new cute girl / guy for you to chat with. But it can be exhausting, too, being in group conversations with complete strangers a lot of the time.

Embrace your inner extrovert!

25. The Students around you are Aged 18 – 55

In high school, you’ll be in groups generally sorted by age groupings.

But in college, anyone can sign up for a degree.

There are nice things about being with people of a lot of different ages. One is that you’ll learn a lot from people from different backgrounds. You’ll also learn a lot about people who have had career experiences and then come back to university for a while.

But, be prepared for the constant debates about whether older or younger students are more annoying.

26. People Live on Campus

No, people aren’t going to be coming to class in their pyjamas.

But you might see groups of students who live in the college dorms hanging out in the greens as if it’s their own backyard. And well, that’s because it is.

When I was in university my dining hall was in the middle of campus. So there were the ‘on-campus’ students always walking by your classrooms in big packs on their way to lunch and dinner!

27. Self-Motivation is Necessary

You really need to be doing the degree out of some sort of intrinsic interest.

In other words, you’ve got to be self-motivated!

The excitement of the degree drops away pretty fast. And then you’re back to digging deep and finding that motivation.

You need to remind yourself that you’re here for a reason: to get that dream job or career. Or, because you’re actually really passionate about that topic you’ve selected for your degree!

I recommend you check out my detailed post on how to stay motivated at college for some tips and advice.

28. Your Professors have Drop-In Office Hours

This is such an under-used resource at many universities.

I have drop-in office hours and I very rarely have students attend.

What are drop-in office hours?

Simply, it’s a few hours a week when the professor leaves his door open for students to turn up and ask you any questions you want on your topic.

It’s a great resource to get to know your professor, get them to look over your drafts, and get insider tips on how to succeed.

29. No Standardized Test

In high school, there is a very strict curriculum that teachers must follow. It’s usually set by a board or government body.

And it’s true, some degrees like a medical or law degree will be designed to prepare you for a final standardized test that is strictly regulated.

But at least 80% of university degrees have courses written and designed by your teachers themselves! That means that no one degree is the same as another. What you learn is really dependant on the expertise of your professor a lot of the time!

Summary: High School vs. College

If there’s one key takeaway from this article it’s this:

At College, you’re treated like an adult. It’s less structured, and learning is only one person’s responsibility: Your Own.

fIf you have any more ideas you think I should add to this post, please leave a comment below and if I like your idea I’ll add it to the list!

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Number Games for Kids (Free and Easy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Word Games for Kids (Free and Easy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Outdoor Games for Kids
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 50 Incentives to Give to Students

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Home / Essay Samples / Education / College / High School Vs College: A Compare And Contrast

High School Vs College: A Compare And Contrast

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