Similarities Between High School and College

Since attending college for half a semester, I have found that I enjoy being a college student more than being a high school student. I have noticed that college allows for more freedom than high school, such as the ability to use cell phones in class, leave class, eat in class, and wear anything you want. After graduating from Mt. Maria High School, I held off on attending college for years due to certain situations that prevented me from doing so. Now, at twenty-five, I have finally been able to enroll in Gallo College and have noticed differences in the attitudes and responsibilities of both teachers and students, as well as in the classes and the freedom that comes with them. High school provides a general education in all subjects, preparing students for college, while college provides education in a specific field, preparing students for a job. There are many ways in which the attitudes of high school teachers differ from those of college professors. In high school, most teachers and faculty members seem to be stricter and have more rules and regulations for students to follow. Additionally, in high school, students are required to learn all subjects, whereas in college, students have the freedom to choose what they want to learn. High school teachers are evaluated based on students' performance and standardized tests, which do not exist in college. Furthermore, professors generally have a higher level of education in specific subjects than high school teachers, who often have post-graduate degrees in education. Therefore, your professors will not only be professional educators but also potential leading contributors in their fields of study. Some might even be world-renowned researchers. One similarity between high school and college is that classes are typically taught by a teacher who stands at the front of the room and gives exams to evaluate learning. However, there are some differences between high school and college classes. In high school, classes are usually held at the same time every day and are only fifty minutes long. In contrast, college classes may meet once, twice, or three times a week and can last anywhere from one to three hours. Exams in college may be in familiar formats, such as multiple choice, or they may be essay exams where students write their answers in a test booklet. Additionally, while a high school year is typically thirty-six weeks long, some classes may extend over both semesters. In college, the academic year is divided into two separate fifteen-week semesters, plus a week for final exams. College courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, and summer classes may be used to accelerate graduation. Attendance policies may vary with each instructor in college, whereas in high school, class attendance is usually mandatory and monitored carefully. Lastly, while textbooks are typically provided at little or no expense in high school, the cost of textbooks in college can be a small fortune. Perhaps the biggest difference between high school education and college is the responsibility that you'll undertake as a college student. In college, you are an adult, and you will be held accountable for all of your behavior. Nobody will force you to go to class or study for your exams, and your professors won't be nearly as willing as high school teachers. In high school, you need permission to participate in extracurricular activities. However, in college, it is your responsibility to decide whether to participate or not. Another difference between the two is the clothing that students wear. In high school, students are required to wear uniforms, whereas in college, they can wear whatever they choose.