It’s not always easy to know the differences between high school and college, particularly when you’re new to college — but it can be the case even when you’ve been at college a while. So, here’s information about some key ways that college differs from high school in terms of student responsibilities. Head’s up: you have more responsibility for yourself than most students do in high school!
COLLEGE CLASSWORK
Some of your assumptions about college classes might not be accurate, and it’s important to understand the key ways that classwork in college differs from high school.
TIME MANAGEMENT. You’re in charge of setting up your own schedule, as well as budgeting enough time to complete all of your projects and assignments. Your professors will expect that you can manage your time well enough to meet deadlines and be prepared. Need some advice on time management? Use the link below to access the Stalled poster on “time management” for useful resources.
GRADES IN PROGRESS. Your professors will submit your grade in the course at the end of each semester, but you are responsible for knowing how you’re doing as the semester goes along. Need help? Use the free grade calculator in the resources linked to the digital form of this poster (accessible via a link below).
ACCELERATED WORK. Many high school classes span an entire academic year. At college, a class lasts only a semester. So, that means that every class period will emphasize new material, skills, or practice, and missing even one class can make mastery of future knowledge and skills much more difficult. It also means that projects like reports, papers, and other tasks will need to be completed while you are engaging in other work for the same class (as well as work for your other classes, too). To help yourself out, make a regular schedule for your classwork and be sure to stick to it (use the links below to find the Stalled poster on Google Calendar tips).
MORE WORK OUT OF CLASS. During class, professors deliver information and students engage in discussion and other activities. But a lot of your learning (arguably, most of it) will happen outside of class, and that means that you’re responsible for more of your own learning than in high school. You’ll need to do the reading and homework, and professors will expect you to come to class with questions to help them clear up any confusion as well as to push your understanding of the topics and ideas. Your professors will help show you how to learn, but you are responsible for your own learning.
PROVIDING FOR YOURSELF
In many instances, high school is a place where students are given supplies. In contrast, students are almost always expected to provide their own supplies in college.
TEXTBOOKS. Students need to find their own copies of their textbooks, since the library does not hold copies of all textbooks for all classes. The Colby Bookstore (in the Cotter Union) has required textbooks for courses available for sale. However, note that some professors might suggest, rather than require, some books, and those might not be available for sale in the bookstore.
SUPPLIES. It’s students’ responsibility to provide study supplies for themselves. So, that means that if you want items like pens, notecards, paper, colored pencils, sticky notes, or other study supplies, you have to buy them (from the Colby Bookstore or from another online or physical store).
PRINTING. Black and white printing is free, while color copies cost $0.20 per page. Upon coming to Colby, each student is given $10 on the printing balance of their ColbyCard. It’s a good idea to ask your CA and upperclass students in your classes where you can find printers that are close to your dorm or classrooms.
FURTHER RESOURCES
“Google Calendar Tips.” Stalled.
Macalaster College. “Differences Between High School and College.”
Pink, Daniel. “Daily When Tracker.”
“Time Management.” Stalled.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “How Can the Flowtime Technique Help Me?”