Western Michigan University Parent and Family Guide
High School vs. College
Many first-time college students are so excited about the thought of being a college student, they haven’t given much thought to what it really means. Preparing ahead of time for some of the major differences can assist with the transition from high school to college.
| High School | College | |
|---|---|---|
| Time/Schedule | Structured and sequential. Typically a daily routine that is stable and predictable. | Unstructured. Students are personally responsible for getting up, going to class, managing priorities, and going to bed at a reasonable hour. |
| Teacher/Student Relationship | Significant contact as most classes meet 5 days per week. One to one relationships and casual meetings before/after class. Frequent homework reminders. | Most classes meet 2 to 3 times per week. Students are expected to contact faculty during office hours. Work is often self-directed. |
| Parent/Family Involvement | Parents and guardians have access to and monitor grades, assignments, and attendance. Parents contact teachers or counselors directly with concerns. Communication is open and information freely shared. | Students must grant authorized user access to academic and financial information. This does not include assignment grades or attendance. Instructors and advisors cannot talk with family members about student progress or concerns without the student’s written authorization. |
| Counseling/Advising | Guidance counselors plot out the four-year curriculum with the student. Parents may also be involved. | Students make appointments with academic advisors every semester, and should be prepared prior to meeting with the advisor. Many courses are self-selected based on interests. |
| Freedom | Student freedom is usually dictated by scheduled activities and parental guidelines. | Students make their own choices about how to use their time. |
| Academics | Students may be able to earn good grades with minimal effort The class work is evenly distributed throughout the semester. Students are given detailed instructions and support for major papers and projects. | Students may find that college is more rigorous and expectations are higher. Minimal effort may produce poor grades. Course work tends to be “back loaded”, meaning that there may be more work in the second half of the semester. Students must ask for assistance and clarification if they don’t understand major assignments. |
| Advocacy | Parents, teachers, and counselors advocate for individual students. Parents frequently intercede in problematic situations. | Students must learn to advocate for themselves by asking for help when they need it and taking advantage of University support services and resources. |
