In high school, there are mainly differences than similarities. Teachers say high school "prepares" you for college but they mean that in a different way.
1. High school prepares you for college.
You will hear that through you're high school years, and you will not be able to count how many times you hear it. The work you do in high school is nothing compared to college work. You are used to one page papers, and messing around half the class period. High school teachers let you get away with a lot more than college teachers ever would let you. The class work in high school does NOT prepare you for college. Here you are thinking it won't be much different, because thats what your old teachers have said. They don't tell you about the multiple papers, projects, and tests you will be doing. You will have seven page papers and you will have twenty page papers. You will have more homework in the first few weeks of college than you ever did in high school, thats a promise.
2. Going to college for the parties will not work.
I've heard many people say that they are going to college for the "parties." Those are the people who are usually struggling by semester or have already stopped going to their classes completely. I have seen many people stop going to class because they love the social part of college. Socializing is fine to do during class or after class, but attending classes and participating in them is a huge part of college. People that go to college for parties are too tired to go to class, so they don't. Some teachers have rules about attending classes and some don't.
3. Your schedule is different.
The earliest you may have class is an 8:00 A.M., but you can choose your schedule and you may only have three classes a day, depends on your major. You do not have to go to class all day and then have school events all night. College schedules are not even close to being similar. Having breaks between classes are good for when you want to go get something to eat, or even to take a nap.
4. The food is better.
There is a BIG difference from food in high school vs. food in college. Eating at college seems like you are almost eating at a food joint every day. Eating in the cafeteria in high school every day seems like you are eating in a prison. The food in high school is all processed, so its not the best. The cooks are not always the nicest, because they aren't forced to be. And you are basically locked in the school all day since the only time you are allowed to leave is if you get sick or have a doctor/dentist appointment.
5. Your parents can't track your every movement.
Its nice because your parents cannot keep track of where you are every second of the day. You get to do your own thing, and have to be independent because you are on your own. No one is going to wake you up when you miss your alarm and going to be late for school. No one is going to tell you to check your planner because you have homework due the next day. No one is going to tell you not to drink during a school night or even to not forget to go to class. That is sometimes what gets people in trouble.
6. You get new friends.
The friends you grew up seeing every day and classmates go their own way while you go the other. You lose touch, and don't associate with each other as much as you used to. You might see each other every once in a while but its not the same as it was back then.You will get new friends, and they will turn into your best friends. Its true, you will meet some of your best friends when you go to college.
