Graduating from high school is one of the best days of a teenager's life. With the excitement of the new experience of college days ahead of them, many fresh high school graduates are looking forward to their future college lifestyle. However, many upcoming college freshman don't know what to expect when they get to school, and many are nervous or worried about the intensity level of the classes, homework, and essay editing. A college education is a valuable tool in today's competitive job market; however, receiving a college education is extremely different from earning a high school diploma. By doing some research and being aware of the demands that will be placed on new students, students and their parents can be more prepared for the first day at college.
Scheduling
The most strikingly different aspect of a college education that is in sharp contrast to attending high school is the obvious scheduling differences. While many incoming freshman tend to have a fuller and less organized schedule, most students will still have large gaps of time throughout the day where they have nothing scheduled and they may even have a weekday off. This will seem strange at first, as high school had a very structured and regular schedule, but soon college freshman will learn to use this time. By maximizing on your productivity during your free time, you can get a jump on assignments, essay editing, and extra reading you may need to do.
Classes and Assignments
The next great difference between high school and college is the level of difficulty of classes and assignments. Often college freshman will have a class on their schedule that is intended to help freshman college students to transition to the college lifestyle. This class will include tips on meeting new people, studying, and managing your new schedule, and learning to live on your own. However, other classes will often contain a variety of students, both freshman and upperclassmen, and professors will expect the same level of work out of each student. Because of this, it is extremely important to apply yourself in all of your classes in order to keep your grades up and obtain a decent GPA.
College Lifestyle
For most college freshman, college will be the first time they have ever lived on your own. Living without mom and dad for the first time can be exciting and scary, but college days are often when young people get a true sense of who they are as people and develop personality traits and habits that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. It is important to choose your friends carefully. Make sure that you are studying and working hard at classes as well as making time for social activities. Getting enough sleep and eating well are also extremely important for making sure that you are feeling and performing you best. By taking good care of themselves and saving some time for fun, college freshman can make sure that their college experience is both enjoyable and fulfilling.
Starting college can be the most exciting time of a young person's life. By committing to your studies, saving time for new friends, and using your schedule wisely, you can start college off right and ensure that your college experience is a great one.
