Eastern Kentucky University Academic Readiness

High School vs. College

Personal Autonomy:

High School / College
High school is mandated by the state, and you must attend; public high schools charge no tuition. / Public colleges and universities are voluntary, you choose to attend. You pay a lot to attend college and should strive to do well so that you get your money’s worth.
Your time is usually structured by your parents or teachers. / You must learn to manage your own time, and to make wise decisions concerning time management.
You need money for special purchases or events. Often your parents provide you with money, or you have a job that you may use to pay for special items or events. / Your funds may be limited and they must be used to pay for basic necessities such as food, books, and personal items. Money management skills are necessary. Many students must learn to balance school & work responsibilities.
Your parents remind you of your responsibilities and whether your actions are appropriate. / College administrators and professors consider you fully responsible for your actions. You may face moral and ethical decisions you have not previously had to make.
Your parents often tell you or remind you when you have school-related tasks to complete. Some parents even help high school students complete their homework! / You are responsible for knowing what you need to do, when you need to do it, and for getting it done. Reviewing and using class syllabi and class schedules is very important – and your responsibility.

Classes:

High School / College
Every day you go from one class directly to another. Your time is highly structured. / You often have large gaps of time between classes. Class times vary throughout the day and may extend into the evening. You will need to keep focused and use your “free” time to study, read, do homework, begin assignments, or complete research.
You spend 6 hours a day, 30 hours per week in class. You may have study hall time to do your homework. / You spend 12 to 16 hours each week in class. You must spend at least as much or more time on out-of-class study and homework.
The school year is 36 weeks long. / The AY (academic year) is divided into two or three separate semesters.
Most of your classes are arranged for you. You are fairly limited in which classes you may take. / You arrange your own schedule, with the help of your academic advisor. You choose classes using the guidelines appropriate to your major and/or to fulfill general education requirements.
You are compelled to attend class on a regular basis. Your teachers are required to take attendance. / You choose whether to attend class. Professors may or may not take attendance (most will). However, you are fully responsible for the repercussions of not attending class.
Most classes have 30-35 students. / Some largeclasses may have 50-150 students, or more.
You are not responsible for keeping track of classes that are graduation requirements. / You are responsible for keeping track of classes that fulfill graduation requirements. These may include developmental education refresher courses, general education courses, and course requirements that are specific to your major. The online college catalog in effect when you enter the University will give you more information on required courses.
Email, websites and other electronic sources are used mostly as social tools. / Email, websites and other electronic sources may be important lines of communication between you, your classmates, and your professors. You should check your college email daily and class message boards or networking sites frequently.
High school teachers often write detailed information on the board to be copied in your notes. / College professors often lecture nonstop. Many do not write notes on the board. Others write only one or two words about a topic on the board. They do not write detailed notes because college professors expect you to know how to take notes. They expect you to be able to identify the important information in lectures, class discussions, and course textbooks.

Teachers:

High School / College
Teachers check your completed homework. / Professors may or may not take up an out-of-class assignment. (Most will.) However, you may be required to absorb information or perform the same tasks on a quiz or test. If you have completed homework and you have questions about it, and your professor does not take up homework, then you should seek your professor out and pose your questions to him or her.
Teachers remind you of your incomplete work and of due dates. / Professors do not always remind students of assignment due dates. They expect students to follow due dates for assignments as found in the course syllabus or class schedule. Professors assume work that has not been turned in has not been done. They assign a grade of zero for work that is not submitted. Many refuse to accept work that is submitted late.
Teachers tell you if they think you need tutoring or other types of assistance, and may arrange a tutor for you. / Some professors approach students they think need assistance with class work, including tutoring. Others do not. Most professors expect students to be aware of their academic strengths and weaknesses and to seek out tutoring when they need it. If you think you need tutoring, ask your professor or academic advisor for information on campus tutoring labs.
Teachers are often available to answer questions or discuss class-related work and assignments before, during, or after class. / Professors expect students with questions and concerns to come to their offices during the office hours listed on the class syllabus. Some do not mind answering questions via email, others do.
Teachers provide you with information and material you missed during an absence. / Professors expect you to contact your classmates for missed notes. Professors want you to approach them directly for materials and handouts you may have missed during an absence. They will not bring them to you, and they may not bring them to the next class. Some require you to access an online site to retrieve missed materials and assignments.
Teachers follow a textbook. Sometimes, they present additional material to help you better understand a text. / Professors may not follow the textbook in class, but still expect you to read the textbook and be familiar with the information it contains. They expect you to be proactive and approach them if you have questions about what you have read. Professors expect you to take notes and study information presented during lectures or found in handouts.
Teachers draw connections among topics introduced in class and lead you through the thinking process. / Professors expect you to draw connections among topics introduced in class and to be an active, eager scholar/participant in the critical thinking process. They expect you to be able and willing to weigh information and think for yourself, and to be able to express your thoughts and conclusions.

Studying and Test Taking:

High School / College
You may do most of your studying during homeroom or study hall. Your out-of-class study time may range from 0-2 hours per week. / You will find that you need to study several hours outside of class for every hour you spend in class. You will have to study late into the evening or over the weekend.
You may do a lot of “cramming” right before a class, quiz, or test. / You should organize and plan your study time, just as your classes are planned. Choose particular blocks of time during the week to study for particular classes. Stick to your study schedule.
In high school testing is frequent and covers small amounts of material. / In college testing is usually far less frequent than in high school. College tests may cover huge amounts of material, such as class lecture and lecture notes for half a semester, or several chapters of a text book, and/or information contained in class handouts, PowerPoint presentations, etc. It is not unusual for a college professor to give only two or three tests in an entire semester.
Makeup tests are often available in high school. / College professors seldom give makeup tests. If a professor allows makeup testing because of student illness or a death in the family,you may be required to submit supporting documentation from your doctor or a funeral home director or pastor.
High school teachers frequently rearrange test dates to avoid conflict with school events, such as homecoming, a play, or a major sporting event. / College professors usually schedule tests based on their class schedules or when they feel students should review material. They are not concerned with cheerleading practice, football or basketball practice, play practice, or rush week activities. They do not consider extracurricular activities as a good reason for missing class, not doing your homework, or turning a paper in late.
High school teachers often conduct review sessions before a test. / Most professors do not offer review sessions. When they do, they expect you to be an active participant and ask pertinent questions about course material. “What is going to be on the test?” is not considered a pertinent question. You should come prepared with specific questions about specific course content.

Grades and Grading:

High School / College
Grades are given for most assigned work. / It is not uncommon for college professors to assign work that they do not take up and that will receive no grade. Instead, this homework is assigned to build your skills and/or knowledge base.
Consistently good homework grades may raise your overall grade when test grades are low. / In college classes grades on tests and major papers provide most of a course grade. Look in your syllabus for information on how a professor assigns grade distribution among assignments.
Extra credit projects are often available to help high school students raise their grades. / Extra credit should not be an expectation of students matriculating at the college level. Many professors never allow it.
Poor test grades early in a high school term do not usually have a strong negative impact on your final grade. / Far fewer tests are usually given in a college class. Low test scores on your first exams of the semester can have a huge negative impact on your final grade average in a class, and your overall college grade point average (GPA).
You may pass high school classes and graduate as long as you have passed all of your classes with a grade of “D” or higher. / A “D” may be a failing grade in some college classes, such as developmental-level courses or major-area classes. In addition, most colleges expect you to maintain a certain GPA in order to remain in school and/or receive financial aid. These are called “minimum scholastic standards.” Look in your college catalog for more information.

Prepared by Kathy A. Williams, Director, EKU Office of Academic Readiness, Testing, & Tutoring. Some of this information also may be found in various sources on the Internet. Updated 25-May-2016.