College Students Reflect On Their High School Experience

May 17, 2022
We all anticipate life after high school and the freedom we’ll have. For those of us who choose to go to higher education, there are always questions and worries about how much life will change with newfound responsibilities. Fortunately, there are students willing to share how college life differs from high school.

What’s one thing that you miss about high school?
The workload in college is different than in high school based on the courses that you select. Every professor has the discretion to choose how they want to distribute grades for the course. Therefore, you may have some courses where your grade for the course is solely based on the final exam, or you may have courses that only require weekly assignments and participation.
Was there a change mentally when you started college?
Yes, there was a mental change when I started college because I knew that I was responsible for holding myself accountable. In high school, many teachers will push you to complete your work or make sure that you’re doing what you’re supposed to. In college, professors may not even know your name after spending the whole semester in their class. You are responsible for yourself and making sure that you do the necessary work.
What’s a benefit to college that wasn’t there for high school?
The benefit of college compared to high school is being able to make your own choices. You have a greater sense of freedom with the courses that you want to take based on what you are most interested in. Another benefit is meeting people who have similar goals/interests as you.
Is there anything you wish you did in high school more to prep for college?
I feel like I did the best that I could to prepare for college. Looking back, if I could change one thing, I would remind myself that it takes time to find your true friends. I remember during my first few months of school, I felt like I hadn’t really connected with anyone. Being in a new environment and routine can make you feel lonely at times, but you will meet your people and feel at home with time

What’s one thing that you miss about high school?I miss having people I knew in my classes regularly, especially in your first semester of college. It’s different walking into a room when you aren’t in class with the same people you’ve been with for years.
Was there a change mentally when you started college?Being in a new environment can be a difficult adjustment, and I think the hardest part is managing your own expectations for how it actually will be compared to how you imagined it. You have to give it time and waiting for things to fall into place was difficult for me. It definitely did, but not all at once. By the end of my first semester I was really happy and felt like I had really made the right choice.What’s a benefit to college that wasn’t there for high school?The biggest benefit of college is more flexibility. I love being able to pick the classes I want, and considering whether I want to have classes in the morning or afternoon, spread through the week or just on a few days. Having more control over how I spend my day is wonderful. I also love the semester schedule because it gives you time to try new things and gain experiences while giving you time to change up what isn’t working. I feel more eager to try new things because I know that if it doesn’t work it’s not too long before I can make a change.Is there anything you wish you did in high school more to prep for college?I don’t know if there’s anything in high school that I would have done differently to prepare. I think I should have appreciated certain things more but I think college is something you have to give yourself time to experience and can’t prepare too much for.Do you manage time differently? Explain.Yes, the way I manage my time has totally changed and I think for the better. With fewer assignments and deadlines that I know well in advance, I spend less time each day on work. I can break papers down and work on them over time and give myself time to take breaks from it before I go back for final edits. I always try to do a little reading for my classes each day but the biggest thing is to schedule time for myself at the end of the day to relax and read something fun. Around exams it can be a little more stressful but if you build little amounts of work into your day it becomes a regular habit and way less stressful than trying to get homework done for every class every night.