Making the Transition to College
Students arriving on a college campus are almost always overwhelmed. There is so much information to absorb, so many people to meet, so many courses to choose from—information overload!
Even if you are assigned a first-year program with specific courses you must take, you may still find the experience challenging. Going to college means that you have committed to a process that will transform you into a different person. You will acquire a different point of view about many facets of your life. Attending college means accepting challenge and change.
How different is college from high school?
In some ways, it's not so different. You're still focusing on learning, mostly through reading and writing and some hands-on activity. You'll still have teachers, though you won't usually see the same ones every day. In most cases, you'll still have assignments, exams, and grades.
However, for most students, there are two essential—and very major—differences between high school and college:
- College is academically harder than high school. (Find out how—and how to deal—on our Challenging Assignments page.)
- College students have primary responsibility for their own academic advancement. No bells ring, no one reminds you to register, no one forces you to go to class. In many ways, it's liberating. The flip side: you have to be very motivated and organized to succeed. (Read more about what you'll need to do—and how to get help doing it—in our Taking Initiative.)
Of course, there are many other differences too: where and how you socialize, who receives your grades, what sports you can play, and dozens, if not hundreds, more…
