Going from high school to college or university can be very exciting; you're moving to a new chapter of your life. The transition from high school to college is not always easy. You are now in a completely different environment. Here are a few tips to ease you into your new school.


Freedom and Responsibilities
In high school, your time and actions are very structured and restrictive. Teachers will remind you of your responsibilities, and you will be punished if you do not do as you are told.

In college, you have a great amount of freedom; you can choose your courses, when you take them, what activities to participate in, as well as when or if you go to class. This freedom can be overwhelming. It may be tempting to skip class and put things off, but in the end you will suffer for it. You need to remember responsibilities and accomplish them. It's okay to miss a class every once in a while, but don't make it a habit. Remember, you are paying for your time in college; make the most of it.



Teachers and Professors
In high school, you have an informal relationship with your teachers. Some may let you call them by their first name or even a nickname. They know who you are and keep track of your progress. Most teachers are easily accessible for help.

In university, the people who are teaching you are not teachers; they are professors or doctors, depending on their level of education. It is always best to err on the side of formality. You may have a better relationship with a professor during your upper years or if you have small classes. During the first year, when you are in a class of 300 people, you cannot expect your professor to remember everyone. On top of their teaching duties, professors also do research, publish articles and try to keep up-to-date on changes in their field of interest. They may be difficult to get a hold of if you have questions. Most professors have set office hours for students to go see them. Otherwise you can try reaching them by e-mail, phone or making an appointment.

Evaluations
In high school, you have homework nearly every day, several tests throughout the year, and your final exams. Everything you need to know is covered in class and teachers will often review the material to make sure you have all the information you need before tests or exams.

In college, you seldom have homework that has to be handed in regularly. Some classes may have weekly assignments, but in most classes your final grade is based on just a few evaluations: your final exam and perhaps a few tests. Although you do not have daily homework, there always seems to be reading that needs to be done. This reading is expected to be done independently, it is not always covered in class and it may pop-up on tests and exams. Some professors will give you an idea about what to expect and what material to study for tests or exams, but others don't. If you've been to all the lectures and did your reading, you should be fine.



Social Life
In high school, you see the same people in the hallways, your classes, sports teams and in clubs.

In college, you could have a completely different group of people in each class. Classes can contain hundreds of people, and there is often very little opportunity to get to know your classmates. Take this a chance to get to know new people. Be friendly with your classmates; you never know if the girl who sits beside you in Linear Algebra could be your next best friend. Find people with common interests in clubs. Colleges have a wide variety of clubs available. If something you are interested in is not represented, you can often form your own club if you can find enough people.

Put our tips into use, and you'll be sure to have a seamless transition from high school to college.