From Academic Worlds!

The moment when everyone around you scream and throw their caps up in the air, full of joy, is unforgettable; mostly because you have graduated from high school. Now it’s time to prepare for college. This transition isn’t always easy and for most students, it’s a great wake up call on how different it is from high school. In fact, social and academic cultures are completely different in college than in high school in a variety of ways. As one matures and is training to become an adult, there are in need to take the final steps to follow their career path. College is the facility that helps you get in gear and prepare yourselves on how you might be successful in your future. Many students think they have an idea of how college is like, and how they might be able to succeed during class. Unlike high school there are factors that college seem like a boot camp; there are instructors that are hard on you, some easy on you, some understanding, and everything you do is obviously for reason, and it is your job to change during the process because as you go through it, your changing and learning more things that will help you learn. It's a common misconception that many students have when they come to college. Is one really prepared for college like they said they are in high school?

Some common social things they have in high school are labels and communication. In high school, there are many different types of labels that people use in a stereotypical way. They are the extraverts and the introverts. Between the extraverts, there are the typical athletic group, the overachievers, the artistic and actors. Then there are the introverts that are some smart people, the gamers, the outcast/outsiders, and those people who are really unique and special. People who are extraverts tend to do more things, and actually communicate more throughout all the classes and almost try to include every other person when working together. Introverts tend to think more by themselves, they usually try to think before doing something, a lot of the times become shy and try to move through the year. Introverts tend to communicate less throughout high school because many think that it’s better if they do things on their own because, in their opinion, they feel like they could succeed more that way. When one enters the high school classroom, you probably easily identify the different types of people. Usually, people who are extroverts tend to be really loud and actually show some form of gesticulation. People who are introverted usually are closed and talk to the people who they feel most comfortable with, aka friends, or just simply doing something that they like, such as hobbies. The labels of extravert and introvert are easily identified in any ordinary classroom of a high school based on their gesticulating motions and communication.

In college, the social structure is completely different based on the fact that all classes are spread out. Many students have a vast variety of classes to choose from unless they coordinate classes, and they are paired up with any individual that has signed up for that same class. You will be in a class with people you may know or with complete strangers, one may never know. And so, students have to get used to the different types of people around them, including people who one might think that you wouldn’t have associated with in high school. Labels won’t matter, especially if professors require you to work with someone beside you. Communication is a prior key in college and it has to be done with the people you most likely don’t know in class. Whether it's to meet up with them, to do a group project, or to catch up on any missing assignments you missed for a class, communicating with others is a way to help boost your confidence or help get a general sense of how life is really like. Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, communicating with others is a prerequisite skill that we need to practice.

Another factor that is highly different is the academic culture of high school. Between the relationship between the students and teachers, they become almost like your friends in a sort of way. They are supposed to help you succeed and if you need it, the teacher will be there, almost 7 days a week. Many teachers also teach in a manner that seems quite simple that when tests and exams come, the majority of the students are able to pass without studying. In some cases, many teachers excuse the test and actually replace it with some group projects or any old assignments that have been graded already. Teachers also have a tendency to track a student down and actually encourage them to do the work, and without any penalty, if it’s late, or punishment if they don’t turn it in. In many circumstances, teachers even dismiss the assignment for the class because of one particular student. It’s like teachers are making things easier for themselves and the students. Teachers also assign assignments that are not too extreme or that have an extended time to complete the assignment. Also, high school teachers, they give you the help that is needed when they give you the directions for any huge assignment. In high school, teachers almost lay things out for you and expect you to just follow the baby steps.

In college, however, the academic culture is more complex and almost professional. Professors give you the information you need, and give specific steps on how to do the assignment, but only once, as a reminder that they assume you already know who to do the assignment based on your past experience in high school. Professor as well doesn't come after you to encourage you to do the assignments, unless they are really nice. They don’t accept tardiness, late work, bad behavior, they don’t tolerate any of that. When one walks through the door and you must be prepared for the lesson they are about to give you, there are no excuses you haven’t finished an assignment. Assignments are harder and more extended. Professors think you are mature enough to have the responsibility and to do things on your own, or to seek any help when you need it. Professors most of the time make you do individual work to see what you know already, they test you to see if you actually follow their directions or go way beyond that.

Comparing high school and college is like comparing cats and dogs, there are almost the opposite with only a few similar features. Both are similar in how they source if you need any extra help or assistance. As well there is the fact that the last of the classes try to help to communicate with one another. They are different based on how they communicate with one another because of the weird and awkward transition of not talking to strangers, in that sort of sense. But either way, college is extremely different compared to high school and most students need to realize that they need to be prepared at all costs that there is a change in environment, it’s kind of a taste of real life, with all different factors to change the taste.