FOLLOWING THE RULES IN HIGH SCHOOL

CHOOSING RESPONSIBILITY IN COLLEGE

* High school is mandatory and usually free.

* College is voluntary and expensive.

* Your time is structured by others.

* You manage your own time.

* You need permission to participate in extracurricular activities.

* You must decide whether to participate in co-curricular activities.

* You can count on your parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and to guide you in setting priorities.

* You must balance your responsibilities and set priorities. You will face moral and ethical decisions you have never faced before.

* Each day you proceed from one class directly to another, spending 6 hours each day—30 hours a week—in class.

* You often have hours between classes; class times vary throughout the day and evening and you spend only 12 to 16 hours each week in class.

* Most of your classes are arranged for you.

* You arrange your own schedule in consultation with your adviser. Schedules tend to look lighter than they really are.

* You are not responsible for knowing what it takes to graduate.

* Graduation requirements are complex, and differ from year to year. You are expected to know those that apply to you.

* Guiding principle: You will usually be told what to do and corrected if your behavior is out of line.

* Guiding principle: You are expected to take responsibility for what you do and don't do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions.

GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES

SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGE CLASSES

* The school year is 36 weeks long; some classes extend over both semesters and some don't.

* The academic year is divided into two separate 15 week semesters, plus a week after each semester for exams.

* Classes generally have no more than 35 students.

* Classes may number 100 students or more.

* You may study outside class as little as 0 to 2 hours a week, and this may be mostly last-minute test preparation.

* You need to study at least 2 to 3 hours outside of class for each hour in class.

* You seldom need to read anything more than once, and sometimes listening in class is enough.

* You need to review class notes and text material regularly.

* You are expected to read short assignments that are then discussed, and often re-taught, in class.

* You are assigned substantial amounts of reading and writing which may not be directly addressed in class.

* Guiding principle: You will usually be told in class what you need to learn from assigned readings.

* Guiding principle: It's up to you to read and understand the assigned material; lectures and assignments proceed from the assumption that you've already done so.

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

COLLEGE PROFESSORS

* Teachers check your completed homework.

* Professors may not always check completed homework, but they will assume you can perform the same tasks on tests.

* Teachers remind you of your incomplete work.

* Professors may not remind you of incomplete work.

* Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance.

* Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance.

* Teachers are often available for conversation before, during, or often after class.

* Professors expect and want you to attend their scheduled office hours.

* Teachers have been trained in teaching methods to assist in imparting knowledge to students.

* Professors have been trained as experts in their particular areas of research.

* Teachers provide you with information you missed when you were absent.

* Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed.

* Professors may not follow the textbook.