Going from college to high school can be difficult for some, but to say the least, it is a progression for everyone. There are several things like time management, academic independence, and living situations that are very different between college and high school that take some adjusting.
Time management changes drastically in college because of the independence that comes with college. High school is an environment where you don’t have a lot of privileges, but college is your world of freedom, which can be dangerous. In high school there are clocks and bells everywhere, guiding you from one class period to another and no two classrooms are that far apart. But in college, if you are late there is a good chance you could not be allowed into class. There is no one there to remind you that you have to go to class and complete your assignments – that is your job for yourself. You must manage your time and sometimes sprint all the way across campus within a short period to make it to your next class on time, there are no bells or clocks, and each professor goes by his or her own time.
Academic independence from high school to college dramatically changes as well. In high school students are usually given a guideline to make sure you are on the path to graduate, your grades are being maintained, and your school and personal life are balanced. In college, students meet with an academic adviser once a semester, but the burden to take the right classes and be on track to graduate is entirely in your hands. If you are not on top of your academic audit, where your credits are and if they are on track with graduating on time, you can be in trouble. When you are in high school you are also living with your parents, who are usually there to help guide you, and be really annoying about your assignments. When I was in high school I played three sports, so all my assignments were written in weekly format and posted on the fridge so my parents could monitor my school life and athletic career. Now, my parents just try to make sure I get to class every day.
Unless you are a commuter student, you will have a roommate in college or maybe several. When you live with someone you are sharing a space with that person which requires a certain level of trust and comfort that you have to build. You have to change in front of that person, potentially share with them, sleep together, and spend every moment with them. If you are not able to become comfortable with someone, living together can be hectic. Sometimes people go through several roommates before they find someone they can live comfortably with.
College can be a huge adjustment, but the progression can really teach you great life lessons that will help you grow. The faster you can comprehend and adjust to these differences between your high school educational experience and your college educational experience, the faster you’ll adjust to the pace of college life, and the better your chances for academic and life success. Although time management, academic independence, and your living situation can cause stress, it is all a part of your experience that you will learn to manage in the first year.
