TEACHER/STUDENT CONTACT
High School: The contact between teachers and students is closer and more frequent (five days/week).
College: Contact between professors and students is less frequent (one to three times/week in the classroom); other meetings need to be scheduled.
ACADEMICS
High School: Academic requirements are not as demanding. Most assignments completed at school or within short periods of time at home.
College: Academics are more demanding and more difficult. Most classes require several hours of homework each week in order to complete assignments. Effective college level study skills are critical to success.
RELATIONSHIPS
High School: Friendships are established through neighborhood, school and community involvement over a period of years.
College: Students are in a new situation where there is little, if any, carryover of friendships and requires meeting new people and establishing new relationships.
COUNSELING
High School: Counseling is usually initiated by teachers or guidance counselors with parental contact available.
College: Counseling must be sought by students and is focused on personal, academic or career issues. Parents are usually not involved.
DEPENDENCE
High School: Students are told what to do in most situations. Follow-up on instructions is often the rule.
College: Students are on their own, requiring self-discipline, organization and time management. No one will follow-up or check on them.
MOTIVATION
High School: Students receive incentive to achieve or participate usually from parents and teachers.
College: Students must supply their own motivation. No one will remind them or require them to do assignments.
INDEPENDENCE
High School: Students’ activities are monitored and restricted by school, community and parental standards.
College: Students have much more freedom with little outside control and must accept responsibility for their own actions.
DISTRACTIONS
High School: There are distractions from school and community responsibilities, but these are partially controlled by school and home.
College: Many more distractions occur with many more temptations to neglect academic demands; many more opportunities are available to become involved in social activities.
VALUES
High School: Students usually make decisions based on parental values or have decisions made for them.
College: Exposure to diverse value systems may challenge students’ existing value system. Decisions are made without as much outside influence/guidance.