Difference Between High School and College

Contrasting College Freedom with High School Upon attending college for about eight months, I have found that I enjoy being a college student more than being a high school student. In this short amount of time, I have seen that more freedom is allowed to students in college than in high school as far as most of the important decision-making is concerned. Such choices as schedule, attendance, or class selection are a few examples of how college is less restrictive than high school. Because of this educational freedom and having more control over my educational freedom and having more control over my education, I find being a college student more enjoyable than being a high school student. In addition, high school's control over many decisions that are made for students seems to be more restrictive than college. In my book school was pre-set and can not be changed by the student to fit his needs. For example, the student's time schedule is set every year. Every student must go the same amount of hours ever year. In my case I had to go to school from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. everyday, whether I actually need to or not. I had to spend more time in classes I probably did not need to take but had to fill up my block of time. Another aspect of high school life that is restrictive is the mandatory attendance policy. In my high school, a failure to be in class for one day would immediately constitute a demerit and a referral to the principal's office, unless a student arrived with a signed doctor's excuse. My high school had such an attendance policy it usually pulled students to class in fear of having to go to detention if they failed to attend. One final decision that is constrictive in high school is class choice. Class schedules for each year in high school are already set with the choice of electives being left to the student. For instance, in high school I had to take World History in freshman year, followed by Government in my sophomore year, and finally American History in my junior year. All of these restrictions seem to inhibit the choices of the student more than in college and give students less decision-making in their educations. Moreover, college allows more freedom to its students than high school because of its deep belief in the student's active involvement in his own education. Many of the decisions are left solely to the student, allowing the student much more freedom than he/she held in high school. For example, the time schedule for the college student can be modified to fit the student's individual need. I, for instance, work during the afternoon, so I decided to put all my classes in the morning to allow for my job. This freedom allows me to set up a sufficient daily schedule with which I can work. Furthermore, another freedom that college students enjoy is a less strict attendance policy. College professors allow their students to miss their classes occasionally if some sort of emergency should happen. I have yet to use this policy, but I feel more at ease knowing that I can go to my professor and negotiate if I need to miss a class. Class choice is also another freedom that comes along with college. Students have a choice of deciding which classes they want to take for each semester without restraint from the registrar. I have found this freedom to be especially nice because I am able to balance my semester schedule with both tough and easier classes so as not to overload myself completely. College gives much more freedom to its students than high school does, providing much more power to the student over his own education. Upon comparing high school to college, I appreciate the freedom in college now more than ever. Then fact that I was able to select my own class-time hours and classes has provided much more satisfaction and relaxing time to me than when I was in high school. Also, the less strict attendance policy and caring professors have given me ease in getting help and the knowledge that I can work around an emergency if one should ever strike. It is because of this freedom that I enjoy college more than high school and that I will be successful for the rest of my time during college.