Differences To Expect
Class Time
High School | College |
Maximum of 30 hours per week, and 36 weeks per year | 12 hours per week, and 28 weeks per year |
Total of 1,080 hours per year | Total of 336 hours per year |
Class Size
High School | College |
20-30 students per classroom | Varies greatly |
Study Time
High School | College |
What ever it takes to do your homework. 1-2 hours per day | Usually 2 hours of study for 1 hour of class, or 3-4 hours per day |
Teachers vs. Professors
High School | College |
Weekly, at the end of a chapter (frequent quizzes) | 2-4 tests per semester (i.e. – at the end of a four chapter unit, on the Tuesday after Columbus Day) |
Tests
High School | College |
Teachers check notebooks, and homework assignments | Professors seldom check homework or monitor daily work |
Teachers usually lecture from textbooks and often use blackboards and worksheets | Professors lecture nonstop & require library research |
Grading System
High School | College |
Satisfactory academic standing requires a grade of D or above | Satisfactory academic standing requires a grade of C or above |
Performance evaluations may be subjective, based on level of effort or improvement | Performance evaluations are based on mastery of course content |
Responsibility and Freedom
High School | College |
Time is more structured | You must manage your own time and personal freedom |
Limits are set by parents, teachers, and other adults | Self-reliance means being in charge and responsible for your own actions |