The Princeton Review
High school and college are very different from one another, and you need to prepare for this. Otherwise, the transition will be as shocking as a plunge into very cold water!
Sometimes we need to state the obvious. We’ll start with this list of four differences and how you should prepare yourself.
Size matters
For most students, college will be larger than high school. For many, college will be hugely larger! You won’t have 30 or 40 students in a class. Some of the larger lecture halls will hold a thousand students and this is especially true for Freshman classes. Try to wrap your head around a class that will feel like one of your high school assemblies in the gym. If you’re easily distracted, sit up front – otherwise, you’ll find yourself struggling on that first test!
Start at the bottom
I hate to be the one to remind you, but you’re a Freshman again. You probably won’t get an atomic wedgie or duct-taped to the bleachers, but you’re back at the bottom of the food chain. Don’t worry, because unlike high school, the opportunity to find kindred spirits is much easier. Check out the clubs and activities, and don’t be afraid to reach out to people. Initiative goes a long way in college!
No one holds your hand
You’ve heard this threat before, but it’s really true in college. You are on your own for good or for ill. If you want to sleep in and blow off class, you can. If you get an F in that class, that’s all you too. Be prepared to grow up fast if you don’t have self-discipline. If you’re a slow starter, you can pick classes that start at 7pm. If you prefer, you can be done with class by noon every day! You need to take ownership of your schedule and your life. By the way, if you sleep in, you might also miss breakfast!
No one holds your hand - Part 2
This is your opportunity to become independent – so go for it. There is no better place to meet new friends and try new things. Go to the pre-law club meeting if you think you might want to be a lawyer. Check out the fraternities and sororities – you didn’t have those in high school. Don’t do your laundry for two weeks (or a month). Expand your horizons and get the most out of your college experience. It’s just as much about what you learn as what you experience.
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