College vs. High School: The Syllabus

A rookie mistake made by many new college students is too overlook the syllabus. Do NOT do this. Though it may only be a sheet or two long, it is a valuable resource and will be a reliable friend for the entire semester.

When you receive a class syllabus, take the time to read through all of it. Be sure that you know and understand the professor's attendance, exam, and make-up policies as well as the grade breakdown. If the information is not available or you do not understand the wording, be sure to speak up—doing so could prevent negative consequences later on! You should also highlight the professor's contact information so that you can easily find it should you need to schedule a meeting or receive extra help.

After reading through the syllabus, mark down the dates of assignments, quizzes, papers, and exams. You can do this on a calendar, in a planner, or in your iPhone. The method you choose is not important, just be sure that you choose one that is accessible and easy to use. It may also be helpful to note the amount of points or grade percentage assigned to each item. Lastly, remember to refer back to the syllabus to ensure that you are on track with assigned readings.

Live and love your syllabus—it is one tool to success that you do not have to pay for!

College vs. High School: The Amount and Type of Work

When you signed up for college, you were probably aware that the subject matter you studied would be more difficult. However, you might not have expected the many differences that exist between the work you did in high school and what is expected of you as a college student.

An obvious difference is the workload. In high school you may not have needed to study more than a few hours per week. College classes require greater attention and devotion. How much time you ask? A good rule of thumb is to add up the hours of class you have each day and multiply that number by two. For example, if you have two hours of class on Monday, you should plan to spend about four hours doing work. Remember that this is only a general guide—you may need more or less time depending on your individual ability, needs, and learning style.

The type of work you are assigned in college is different as well. High school generally consists of a lot of “busy work” including items such as worksheets, small essay assignments, and short answer questions. College assignments, however, generally include large textbook readings or in-depth papers and projects. Because of the nature of the beast, you must learn to break assignments down into smaller chunks that can be spaced out over several days. Doing this decreases the likelihood that you will have to pull an all-nighter to meet deadlines. Remember too, that some work, such as reviewing your notes, is not assigned. Instead, it is up to you to review textbook and in-class information on a regular basis.

College vs. High School: Social Lives

College is about more than academics. Joining organizations and meeting people in college can give you social skills that can propel you to a better career. While doing extracurriculars is important, it can also affect your academic performance. The key is finding a balance between the two.

The first few weeks, it is tempting to join many clubs and play many sports, either because you did in high school or because you want to meet new people. It seems easy at the beginning, but by the middle of the semester, you may find it is cutting into your study time. If you find yourself overloaded, you will need to choose which activities are the most important to you.

Another social difference is that living in the dorms means being surrounded by other students all of the time. It is much easier to get distracted or pressured into going out, even when you have work to do. Finding a good place to study where you will not be tempted to talk to friends is a good way to avoid this problem.

College vs. High School: Class Attendance

Attending class is mandatory in high school. Skipping class may have led to a detention or a phone call home. In college, class attendance is frequently a decision. Some professors have strict policies, in which missing more than one or two classes can cause your grade to drop a full letter grade. Some professors have a more lenient policy, but a policy nevertheless. Attendance may factor into your grade if you are on the border of two letter grades, or it may only be included if attendance is unacceptable. Other professors have no policy, as long as you take all the exams and turn in all the assignments, your grade will not be affected by attendance. These variances lead to a lot of differences in the amount of time students spend in class.

Many students are tempted to not attend classes where it is not mandatory. Your grade may not be directly affected, but it will be indirectly. Professors give information in class that is not always in the notes or the textbook. They can also fill in any gaps from the readings that may be unclear. Every time you skip class, you are wasting money that you are paying to be in classes, and could be wasting more money by getting bad grades which could lead to retaking the class.

Consider the consequences of skipping class. They are both financial and academic, and could profoundly affect your future career.

College vs. High School: Time Management

One major difference between high school and college is that you are now your own personal assistant! In high school, your day was dictated by others. Now, however, you have the ability to do whatever you want. It may seem cheesy but the key to successful time management is to consider the consequences of a choice in advance.

A planner can become your best friend in college. It will allow you to schedule all of the time you need to study and do work, as well as extracurricular and social events. A surprising truth is that the more you plan, the more time you have. Often in college there are small blocks of open time during the day. Many students use this time to nap, watch T.V., or hang out with friends. A schedule can help you to recognize these blocks of time that can be used for studying. If you can get all of your studying done during the day, you will be able to have a social life at night. In high school, these empty spaces were often filled with a study hall, in which you are forced to do some work. In college, you have to make this decision on your own.

Time management, once dictated by teachers, guidance counselors, and parents, is now a skill that you must master. It is the backbone of academic success.

Welcome Class of 2013!

The Academic Skills Center would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new first year students! To celebrate, we are presenting a First Year Series that will cover all of the academic issues facing new college students. Even if you aren't a first year, you can still get a fresh start with these study tips.

Most of you have heard by now that college is different from high school. The big question is, in what ways? We hope to give you an idea of these differences, and with this, to prepare you for any upcoming challenges.

Be sure to check back for new entries!