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I have had amazing experiences so far in both university and high school, however those experiences have been drastically different. High school and University are two completely different worlds. The transition between the two isn’t easy but a little bit more bearable if you know what to expect.
–Exams test what you know, not what you don’t: Professors genuinely want you to do well in their courses and because there is so much content to know, they usually don’t penalize you for not knowing one little thing. For example a lot of written questions consist of being able to choose to answer two out of the three questions, so you’re not totally screwed if you draw a blank. The exception is multiple choice questions however. They are evil and the bane of my existence.
–Writing is inevitable so you better learn to write: In high school, I never got the chance to really write, hence I never really learned how much I love it. Now that I’m in university, you write in every class and it contributes a large amount to your GPA. No matter what faculty you’re in, you’re going to be writing papers, lab reports, essays, etc. So, if writing isn’t your strong suit, start trying to change that. Writing is so important.
–You don’t have to go to class… if you don’t mind failing: It’s true when people say that no one will notice if you don’t show up to class one day. In a 400 person lecture, the only person who will notice is you. But that will be the most detrimental. In university classes, you go through so many different concepts in one 50 minute time period and by missing those lectures, you will fall behind, trust me. Just go to class kids.
–Building ties with professors is harder: In high school I was incredibly close to my teachers. I went to them for every piece of advice. They played a huge role in my high school experience and helping me succeed. Now that I’m in university, professors seem so much more intimidating. I have yet to go to a prof’s office hours. The closest I have come to talking to them is emailing them with clarification questions.
-Class Schedules are much more flexible:One of my favorite differences about university is the fact that I’m able to make my own schedule. Not only can I pick exactly what classes I want (as long as they coincide with your degree), but I can also pick the times. I love to force myself to wake up early (although I definitely don’t love waking up early) and finish my day early so I have the rest of the day to study or do whatever else I have to do. This semester, I start at 9 and finish around 1 most days. I love it.
–Friends are easier to make: During my first year, somebody asked me if I had made any new friends and I replied with that I was still mostly sticking to my group of friends from high school. I found the thought of making new friends so intimidating. Although I am still incredibly close to my high school friends, that circle has also expanded greatly throughout my second year. Our friend group is bigger than ever and I couldn’t be happier.
–The grading system: I’m not sure how it is in the US or other countries but here in Canada, an A in high school consisted of 80% or above which was usually totally manageable. (And before you get your panties in a twist, I realize that US high schools usually consider an A as 90 or above, but the standards are just as high in Canada so calm down and get your facts straight.) However, I was shocked when I was handed back a midterm in university that I got 85% on with a large B circled on top. University usually counts an A as 90% or above. I once had one class with a 95% as an A. Some profs are evil, what can I say?
–Amount of Studying: This is one of the most obvious differences between high school and university but I figured I should be the one to tell you that it is completely true that you need to up your studying habits in order to take home that 4.0 GPA. In high school, my studying for a final consisted of doing some practice problems and reading over my notes a couple nights before the test. For a university final exam, you’ll want to multiply that by 40 if you want a decent grade. Sound intimidating? That’s because it is. You’ll hate your life for those dreaded two weeks but you’ll be so proud of yourself afterwards.
–Free Time is a luxury, but is still attainable:It’s true that university takes up a lot more of studying. It is said that for every one hour of class, you should be doing three hours of studying and homework. So, if you’re taking a full course load, that’s a mighty 45 hours of studying that you should be doing every week if my calculations are correct (they are). However, once in university, I still found myself having some extra time that I could devote to hanging out with friends, shopping, and of course, blogging. I only have classes for a couple of hours a day as opposed to the traditional six hour high school day.
-More Pressure: In high school, my biggest concern about grades was getting the A’s that would please my parents. It wasn’t until grade 12 that I realized these grades could potentially impact my future. Even then, it wasn’t a huge concern of mine. When I entered university and I began to pay for my education and I was forced to think about what I wanted to achieve in my future, my grades were suddenly a lot more important. A bad mark could mean failing the class or lowering my GPA and not being able to pursue what I want to. However, with this added pressure comes a lot more passion. In university, you are no longer being forced to learn. It is entirely up to you. The only reason that you’re enrolled in class is because you are preparing for the rest of your life. This is what you want to do and you are making the investment to achieve those skills and knowledge. I actually enjoy going to school now and I hate to miss a class. My heart is fully in my classes and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
For more school help, check out my University Advice post and my What I Wish I Told My Freshman Selfpost.For those still in high school, take a look at my High School edition post. For even more advice, you can wander over to my Study Tips post.
