Parent Workshop:

High School vs College

Ms. Daniels, APEX Counseling Intern
Miss Reyna, Counseling Assistant and APEX Graduate

Following the Rules = High School

Choosing Responsibly = College
School Type
High

School: Mandatory and free

College/University:

Voluntary and expensive

Class Schedule
High

School: Each day students proceed from one class directly to

another, spending roughly 6 hours each day--30 hours a week--in class

College/University:

Students often have hours between classes; class times

vary throughout the day and evening and they spend only 12 to 16 hours
each week in class

Class Size
High

School: Maximum of 30

College/University:

Can be upwards of 500 in General Education classes

depending on the size of the institution

Time Management

High School: Student time is structured by others

College/University: Student structures their own time

Homework Load

High School: Roughly a maximum of 1-2 hours per night

College/University: Professor expects the student to do 6 hours

of studying per class, per week

Homework Type

High School: Project-based, quizzes

College/University: Extensive reading, lengthy paper writing,

large comprehensive exams

Teacher/Professor Relationship

High School

Teachers check completed homework

Remind student of incomplete work

Approach student if they believe they need assistance

Are often available for conversation before, during, or after class

Provide student with information they missed when absent

Present material to help student understand the material in the textbook

Often write information on the board to be copied in students notes

Often take time to remind the student of assignments and due dates

Carefully monitor class attendance

College/University:

Professors may not always check completed homework, but they will assume the student can perform the same tasks on
tests

May not remind the student of incomplete work

Are usually open and helpful, but most expect the student to initiate contact if they need assistance

Expect and want the student to attend their scheduled office hours

Expect the student to get from classmates any notes from classes they missed

Expect the student to read, save, and consult the course syllabus (outline); the syllabus spells out exactly what is
expected of the student, when it is due, and how the student will be graded

May not formally take roll, but they are still likely to know whether or not the student attended

Texts/Exams

High School:

Testing is more frequent and covers smaller amounts of material

Makeup tests are often available

Teachers frequently conduct review sessions, pointing out the most important
concepts

College/University:

Testing is usually infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of

material. The student, not the professor, needs to organize the material to prepare
for the test. A particular course may have only 2 or 3 tests in a semester.

Makeup tests are seldom an option. If they are, the student needs to request them.

Professors rarely offer review sessions, and when they do, they expect the student to
be an active participant, one who comes prepared with questions

IGETC and Assist.org

IGETC - Intersegmental General Education Transfer

Curriculum

Websites to assist students that are transferring from a

community college to a 4 year college or university

Check credits and requirements for specific academic

programs

http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html

Questions?