College and high school is certainly not the same thing. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who disagrees with that statement. College requires much more responsibility and preparation. Here is a list of things that will help keep you on track during your first through last semester at the big U:

1. You will soon find that you are expected to think for yourself. Gone are the days when parroting back what the teacher said is an acceptable answer in the classroom. In college, most professors expect their students to come up with their own ideas and thoughts on the subject matter being offered. Many times, there is no right or wrong answer for the material that professors are presenting, so get ready to formulate your own theories and stand behind them!

2. In high school, teachers were rebuked by principals for having a political or religious agenda in the classroom. In college, professors can and sometimes do present their own values and opinions during class. Many professors have their own perspectives and aren’t afraid to share them. Instead of getting offended by their views, why don’t you offer your own? (See #1).

3. Reading assignments in college are usually long. Really long. If you are taking a course that has a heavy reading load, say 100 to 200 pages per week, break it up into more manageable sections. This way, you won’t be overwhelmed and can stay on track. Always read during the daytime so that you maintain conscious and focus on what you are actually reading. Ask yourself questions and analyze the text.

4. You need to take notes. College students need to be taking notes for the entire duration of the class meeting. Professors expect you to be taking notes and paying attention during the lecture. Writing things down will keep you focused and alert, especially during those uninspiring lectures.

5. You are expected to talk from time to time in class. Even in the largest and most impersonal universities, professors will want, and expect, students to speak up during class. If you have a comment or question, share it with the class; don’t be embarrassed. If you have an answer to a question the professor or another student has posed, raise your hand and speak up! This will show the professor and classmates that you are prepared and thought about the issues being presented.

6. In college, most grades are determined by a set formula. There is little opportunity for extra credit, and no extra points for brown-nosing or trying hard. Grading by set formula is the easiest and most objective way for professors to assign grades to the thousands of students they see each semester. It may not be nice, but it’s the way things are done in college.

7. Papers are the new reports. It is most likely that in college you will have many more essays and papers to write than you did in high school. These are usually harder to complete because they require much more analysis or interpretation of the material. Research must often be completed when compiling information for an essay or paper. If you are unsure how to proceed on tackling a lengthy
paper, consult the TA or professor during their posted office hours.

8. Each assignment is a large chunk of your final grade. In high school there were endless homework assignments and tests to be completed, and this acted as a cushion for your final grade. In college, there are usually only 3 or 4 pieces of graded work. However, this may not be something to celebrate over just yet- each piece is weighted very heavily. Be sure to spend a significant amount of time on each of the major grade-bearing items.

9. Midterms and finals are tough. It’s not just that you have to take a bunch of exams in the same span of time, but also studying and staying focused during that time can be quite trying. Knowing this in advance will help you plan for those stressful weeks without losing your cool completely. Make a calendar of when to schedule study sessions so that you don’t become overwhelmed.

10. There is no early warning system. In high school, there was no way that you could fail a class without many, many warnings and ample chances to make up assignments. Even then, a teacher would have a hard time failing a student. In college, that is a completely different story. There are no threats, nagging, or warnings. The professor will likely not even be aware if he or she has a failing student in the classroom. So, it is your responsibility to know when tests are held and assignments are due.