High school is the minor leagues; college, the major leagues. Each possesses unique obstacles, and each also requires a different level of skill.
While there are numerous differences between these two different stages of life, two main contrasts are pervasive within the first few weeks of college.
Time Management
High school was no picnic. You needed serious discipline to balance your responsibilities: school, sports, work, etc. While graduating from high school gives you a confidence boost, you can easily approach college with a nonchalant attitude.
You may feel like you’ve “got this” when approaching the numerous responsibilities of college. After all, you had to balance different roles as a high school student. While your past experience may have given you some know-how, college pushes you to another level.
In high school, most of your tasks were tied to school or a part-time job. As demanding as these tasks were on your schedule, they likely didn’t require a high level of multitasking or sticking-to-it attitude. Most tasks were mostly based on completion rather than quality of work.
In college, your tasks will include things that impact more than grades or a paycheck. You have life responsibilities — caring for your personal health, paying college bills, living with a roommate, etc. — in addition to school and work.
Managing all of these equally pressing responsibilities while living in a new place can be extremely overwhelming. Without a parent to remind you about due dates or deadlines, you can quickly melt under the pressure.
If you’re already feeling stressed, take a deep breath. You really can’t manage time, but you can manage yourself. So how do you “manage yourself?” Implement these simple tips at the start of the school year:
- Invest in a planner: Paper or electronic, you choose. Simply purchase something that helps you stay on track. If you’re not a believer in planners, consider the alternative — mentally making note of numerous assignments and appointments. (Read more about why planners are lifesavers here.)
- Organize your syllabi: Your course syllabi are like your survival guides to each class. While these documents can easily overwhelm you, they provide all the details that you can use to succeed in your classes. Set aside time at the beginning of the year to input each assignment, project, test, etc. into your planner. (The key to staying on top of your classes is often getting organized.)
- Take advantage of the opening weekend: You’ll be tempted to explore downtown Greenville or sleep away the day for the entirety of your first weekend after classes begin. Instead, take at least a few hours to get ahead on the first week’s assignments in each class. You can always get ahead, but you can’t always get caught up.
Self-advocacy
This word may sound daunting, but it simply means speaking up for yourself. Most freshmen struggle to know when and how to speak up in various areas of college life like these:
- When struggling with an assignment, you may not be sure when to bring this up to your teacher.
- When contesting a grade, you may not be sure how to approach this conversation.
- When dealing with a difficult roommate, you may not be sure what to say.
In high school, your teachers likely approached you after a poor grade. They were quick to offer help or ask you what you didn’t understand. This is unlikely to happen in college. Why? Your college teachers have larger classes and more students. While they’d like to help every student succeed, they don’t have the time to dedicate to one-on-one interactions with every student.
In college, you’ll need to speak up for yourself. You will need to learn how to interact respectfully and timely with your college professors. This can be a tricky and scary process, so how can you handle the previously mentioned situations well?
- When struggling with an assignment: Speak up sooner rather than later. Before sending an email to your teacher, carefully check your syllabus and your notes from class for the answers. Then ask a reliable classmate. If you still find yourself confused, consider staying after class to talk to your teacher or sending an email to set up an appointment.
- When contesting a grade: Focus on learning, not the grade. When you approach a conversation about grades, keep in mind that college classes have a more difficult grading scale. While some assignments may be based on completion, many are based on applying a concept or idea. Your goal ultimately should be to develop skills, not to get all the points (though that can happen when you truly learn).
- When dealing with a difficult roommate: Communication is key when living with a roommate. Talk about small issues before they become big issues. Be honest and open, and always treat your roommate with respect.
High school and college are different leagues, but your high school years helped prepare you for the journey ahead. You can face this new stage of life, knowing that you have the skills to succeed. You may simply need to add some extra elbow grease.
