High school and college are vital institutions in shaping an individual’s life. Consequently, they are equally important, but each level differs from the other significantly. As such, it is crucial to explore the similarities and differences in the two levels in order enable individuals to be prepared for the changes accompanied by each level. According to research, the similarities and differences exist in respect to academic responsibilities, time management and the culture at each level and this information is crucial in helping students who are transitioning from high school to college to be able to adapt to the changes.
Student-Faculty Relations
Subsequently, one major difference that exists in high school and college is the difference in relation to student and faculty relations. To begin with, in high school, the student and teacher’s relationship activities occur on a daily basis (Wisconsin-Platteville, 2016). Evidently, teachers in high school have to attend classes to educate the students. Most of the study in high school involves the students relying on the teachers’ guidance for them to be able to go through them appropriately. Consequently, the curriculum in high schools involves inculcating basic skills and knowledge that guide the students while they pursue further studies later. In contrast to this, in colleges the relation between the students and the professors is limited. It may even be limited to once a week for a particular unit.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
In light of this, therefore, in highs school, it is evident that tutoring and mentoring of students is done by the teachers (Wisconsin-Platteville, 2016). The main attributing factor to this is the fact that the teachers spend a lot of time with students. In the endeavor to inculcate the knowledge to the students, they largely motivate the students and at the same time tutor them. In comparison to the college level, a student has a little time with lecturer but most of the time is spent with peers. Therefore, this results in most of the tutoring and mentoring being administered by the peers.
In comparison, for both high school and colleges, there are individuals who are in involved the life of the students. In high school, both parents and teachers are involved in the student’s homework (Wisconsin-Platteville, 2016). For every new concept, a teacher introduces, they have to give students assignments which are completed at homes. The parents are then obliged to check these assignments at home, and when the students report to school, the teachers are also involved in analyzing how the assignment was done. Consequently, in college, academic advisors are the once who are largely involved in the work of the student.
Academics
Subsequently, the academic requirements in high school, as well as those in college, differ in several aspects. In high school, the academic requirements are often not as difficult. Consequently, in high school, the teachers are available to give directions to students on how to go about the various topics. Moreover, the concepts in high school are not too detailed, and thus this makes it easy for the students to navigate through high school with minimal pressure as the academic requirement is not as difficult (O’Brien, & Davis-Ali, 2015). However, when the students graduate to colleges, the academic requirements become very demanding. Basically, the students have to spend much more time reading for particular units to get and understanding on what they entail.
In relation to this, in high school in depth studying is not a must as the student's work does not cover broad aspects. Nonetheless, in colleges critical of and written essays must be mastered by each student (Appleby, 2014).In light of this, students are required to critically analyze the requirements of each assignment and expound on it systematically and in depth.
However, these levels compare in that each student is required to deliver accordingly to what they were educated on (Appleby, 2014). For high school students, they are supposed to deliver accordingly to the questions which the teacher pointed out they would examine on. Thus this is advantageous as the teachers in high school often point out on what they are likely to test on. In colleges, the students are required to deliver according to the objects of specific subjects. Therefore, testing is mainly administered in respect student’s comprehension of the subject materials which is given out in the form of the lectures, assignments as well as further readings by the students.
Grading
In comparison to high schools and colleges, the aspect of being given extra credits is common. However, the impact the extra credits have on the students in each level is different. In high schools, extra credits are given for the purpose of helping to increase grades. Nonetheless, in colleges, the extra credits awarded to students do not increase the grades (Wisconsin-Platteville, 2016).
Furthermore, in high school, a student can graduate with a minimum of D in average. In colleges, this is not permissible; students should have an average of C to be able to graduate and further their studies (Wisconsin-Platteville, 2016). Subsequently, the student’s intellectual capabilities while leaving colleges are expected to be at a level where they can solve problems at work and in their personal lives efficiently. Hence this calls for them to prove their effectiveness by having good grades.
Moreover, students in high school can maximize on their homework as it can help to boost their grades when they are extremely low (O’Brien, & Davis-Ali, 2015). In colleges, however, each paper is significant as it impacts on the grades significantly. As such, the student is required to work very hard in each paper as a failure in one can impact on the average performance and this may delay a student from graduating.
Class Structures
The number of students accommodated in high school as well as those accommodated in colleges per class also has a significant difference. On average, high school classes consist of 35 students. Majorly, this number is significant in allowing the teacher to be able to attend to all students without pressure. An increase in some the students per class makes it difficult for the teacher to understand the strengths and weakness of each student and help them accordingly. On the other hand, in colleges, a class may have over a hundred and fifty students as there is little relation between the students and lectures.
Another significant difference in the two is the way through which the class is divided. In high schools, the classes are broken in nine weeks period. However, in colleges courses are divided into semesters. For example, there is the fall and summer whereby a student may choose to enroll in summer courses (Wisconsin-Platteville, 2016).
However, in high schools, laptops and tablets are highly discouraged among the students during class time (Wisconsin-Platteville, 2016). Most studies are done using textbooks and writing is done on exercise books. However, in colleges, laptops and tablets are highly encouraged. Consequently, they aid in research which is prevalent in college work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, therefore, we can affirm that there are differences and similarities which are present in each of the two levels of academics. Consequently, time management and academic responsibilities of the students in each level is different with the colleges having more time dedicated to studying in depth due to high academic responsibilities. Moreover, the culture of the institutions also differs as the class compositions and relations are different. As such this information is crucial in enabling a student to transit from high school to college smoothly with realistic expectations.
References
Wisconsin-Platteville, U. (2016). Major Differences Between High School and College . University of Wisconsin-Platteville . Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.uwplatt.edu/counseling-services/major-differences-between-high-school- and-college
O’Brien, P., & Davis-Ali, S. et al. (2015). 8 high school habits that will fail you in college. USA Today College . Retrieved from http://college.usatoday.com/2015/09/08/study-high-school-habits/
Appleby, D. C. (2014). How do college freshmen view the academic differences between high school and college? Retrieved from American Psychological Association website. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/ptn/2014/08/college-freshmen.aspx
