Differences Between High School and University 1

This was taken from a post from The Tomorrow's Professor Today. Many of you have grandchildren who are leaving school and may consider college or university. If they engage that path for their future, it is important to understand what they are going to face before they start. In case you are wondering, there are at least 50+ differences between the average, normal Canadian high school experience and what you will experience at university. Yes, 50+. When some of us get bored, we make lists like this. Some differences are small. Some are big. Some will not matter to most people. Some will matter to many. Some will matter to a few. In any event, there are lots and lots of things that will require adapting to. Although this may seem overwhelming, there are supports in place to help you succeed.

Some students will accept this reality and be ready, open to change, but we have seen many students deny that things will be different. It will be different for others. It is up to you what skills and abilities you really want to develop and excel at. You must think about how you are going to adapt.

What is different and why is change inevitable and important to manage Here are some of the 50+ points given over the next few days. When we talk about adapting to university, it affects every student differently. You will adapt and figure it out, but it will take some adjusting.

Points of difference

1.  You are in class more and the expectations of schoolwork (not the music, sports, drama, debate, coloured basket weaving types, but science and tech) are different - about 50-60 hours every week depending on the courses.

2.  Holidays and long weekends are not really considered - we expect you to be a student all the time and still do some school stuff regardless of weekends and long weekends - still the 60 hours - if you want the long weekend off, put the time in before or after - it does not go away.

3.  There are teaching assistants and you are often being taught by professors - teaching (all of their courses and teaching-related tasks) is only about 40% of a professor’s job. It is not like secondary school where a teacher is a teacher and is there for you.

4.  It is assumed that you will have or will develop appropriate study and learning habits and be an adult.

5.  Often you will not be reminded or nagged about assignments. You forget - you get zero.