Suffolk University - Differences between High School and College

Differences between High School and College

High School	College
Teacher/Student Contact Contact closer and more frequent (5 days a week).	Teacher/Student Contact Faculty are available during office hours (only a few hours a week) and by appointment to address students’ concerns.
Competition/Grades Academic competition is not as strong; good grades can often be obtained with minimum effort.	Competition/Grades Academic competition is much stronger; minimum effort may produce poor grades.
Status Students establish a personal status in academic and social activities based on family and community factors.	Status Students can build their status as they wish; high school status can be repeated or changed.
Counseling/Dependence Students can rely on parents, teachers, and counselors to help make decisions and give advice. Students must abide by parents’ boundaries and restrictions.	Counseling/Dependence Students rely on themselves; they see the results of making their own decisions. It is their responsibility to seek advice as needed. Students set their own restrictions.
Motivation Students get stimulation to achieve or participate from parents, teachers, and counselors.	Motivation Students apply their own motivation to their work and activities as they wish.
Freedom Students’ freedom is limited. Parents will often help students out of a crisis should one arise.	Freedom Students have much more freedom. Students must accept responsibility for their own actions.
Distractions There are distractions from school, but these are partially controlled by school and home.	Distractions The opportunity for more distractions exists. Time management to students will become more important.
Value Judgments Students often make value judgments based on parental values; thus, many of their value judgments are made for them.	Value Judgments Students have the opportunity to see the world through their own eyes and develop their own opinions and values.