There are tons of different reasons college differs from high school. You don't really understand it until you experience it. Here is what I've learned so far:

Professors aren’t all the same, but they are significantly different than high school teachers.

I was always taught to believe my professors wouldn’t care about me. In a way, they don’t baby you as much as a high school teacher would. There aren’t as many second chances (if there are any at all) but if you can apply yourself you learn this quickly.

On the contrary, I have had many professors that have been on my side more than others, because I introduced myself personally and let them know I wasn’t going to waste their time and that I genuinely cared about what they were teaching me. I’ve struggled with certain classes and getting to know your professors and asking for help is a good way to get them to respect you. There is nothing worse than having a professor that dislikes you. It is unbelievably awkward.

I’ve heard more often than not that my professors would attempt to change my religious beliefs. Luckily, I have not had a professor that shoved his or her beliefs in my face. I’ve had professors that have openly discussed their opinion, but respected his or her students if our opinions were different.

In high school, I experienced more teachers that had similar beliefs and it was nice. Going from one school where the majority of people agreed, to a school where there are less conservative, more democratic views, is incredibly interesting. It’s nice to have my views challenged every once in a while.

High school is more about beating your way around the system. I hate to say that, considering some teachers I had might read this. But on the other hand, I feel like they already know it. I respected the majority of the teachers I had, but I struggled with certain classes that I still to this day have no idea how I passed. It was all about how to get the work done no matter how it was done.

College is a different story. There is that one class every now and then I have had that has been a bird course, but other than that, I really have to apply myself and work hard or there is no way I’ll understand what is going on. You skip a class, you won’t pass. Skipping class is seriously the worst thing you can do unless you know for a fact you can deal with the consequences (missing a quiz, catching yourself up, etc).

Studying is so important. I hate studying unless I’m into what we are learning, which is not very often, unless it’s a class that fits into my major. It’s hard to know that I feel like I’m wasting money on classes that I don’t enjoy, and that I probably won’t remember anything from once they are over, but I know they are the building blocks to an education I really appreciate.

In high school, attendance is pretty lenient. Everything in high school is unbelievable lenient now that I think about it. You’re a minor, and everything is pretty much up to your parents. You have room for excuses.

In college, literally everything is up to you. If you're gonna party, you need to have your priorities in check. If you skip, unless it’s some kind of medical emergency, the majority of professors do not care. If they can commute an hour, you can probably drive ten minutes and make it to class. This is something I’ve learned the hard way. My first semester, I tried to test my professors and see how much crap I could get away with. Turns out, not that much. Lesson learned.

The best part of college is the freedom.

You are free to make your own decisions. You are free to create an amazing life for yourself. You get to build your own beliefs, be whoever you want to be, and decide whatever you want to do.

I've learned so much about myself and what I want in life and it's because I'm free to do literally whatever I want to do. Take advantage of that, but don't be foolish. Take this opportunity to learn about who you are!

This can be a blessing or a curse. It is all up to you.