Miami University
High School versus College
Here are some examples of the major issues to discuss thoroughly with your college student before he or she heads off to the campus community.
| Issue | High School | University |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher-Student Contact | Teachers are available daily to assist students. Teachers may notify parents of student progress. Parents and guardians freely call teachers to discuss student issues. Teachers take attendance in all classes. | Students must take initiative to meet and communicate with faculty members. Faculty are available during selected-designated office hours (appointment usually necessary), and by email. Faculty may not by law (FERPA) disclose student record information to parents or guardians by phone or email. Teachers may or may not take attendance. |
| Competition & Grades | Good grades may be obtained with varying levels of effort or competition. Teachers use the same grading scale and often interact with each other about a student’s grades or behavior. | Minimal effort, lack of initiative in seeking assistance, and poor class attendance may result in poor grades and limited opportunities. Faculty use a variety of grading scales and may or may not use the plus/minus grading scale. Faculty members will probably not have interaction with each other about your student. |
| Motivation | Teachers offer students constant motivation to complete work, attend class, and succeed. Most of student’s day is spent in a controlled environment. | Students must motivate themselves to attend class, practice good time-management, and complete assignments on time. |
| Academic Counseling & Guidance | Students often rely on parents, teachers, and counselors to set boundaries and help make decisions about class schedules, college admission, etc. | More choices are available to students and they must often rely on their own judgments. Students determine when to seek advice and must take initiative to do so. |
| Health & Wellness | Medical examinations and appointments are likely to be set up by parents or guardians. Students are instructed about when to see a doctor or dentist for help. Students are often taken to and from doctor’s offices by another person. School medical staff contacts parents or guardians of students about student illness or emotional concerns. | Students must learn to diagnose themselves and learn basic health skills (taking temperature, knowing when and how much medication to take, awareness of allergies, etc.). Students are responsible for making and keeping appointments, even when ill or during bad weather. The law (HIPPA) requires written permission of student to release medical information. |
| Values | Students are strongly influenced by families, peers, teachers, and the community. | Students have more freedom and independence and are likely to be open to different perspectives, behaviors, opinions, and values. |
Please do not make the assumption that your student will somehow learn these skills (from a roommate or others) if he or she has never practiced them before. Helping your son or daughter become more independent and able to care for him/herself by practicing these life skills will result in less anxiety for everyone when separation becomes a reality.
