The Life of High School and College Student

The Life of a High School and College Student
Ashley Vaughan
Ashford University- English Composition I
Craig Smith
April 4, 2011

High school and College has a major influence on one’s life. Everyone has their own personal opinion when they think of school. There are some that enjoy waking up going to class and, on the other hand, there are some who dislike walking through the doors of a school territory. Years from now understanding how important earning a high school diploma and a college degree will be very beneficial you will learn new materials as well as lessons and be tested on those lectures. Homework is given, test are taken and grades are earned semester after semester. If considering a good education one should attend both high school and college. High school also known as junior college and college both consist of getting an education and are very challenging. The advantages in high school are extremely greater than college. The many ways that high school and college differ includes balancing the social life, the changes of the academic rules, responsibilities of the choices that are made, and attendance policy.
Balancing and trying to maintain your social life along with your academics could be difficult at times. Both being place on the center of your hands at the same time could be overwhelming. Young people who are still living in the same household with their parents going to high school is mandatory and usually free. Despite that it is mandatory in some ways being a high school student could be a little less manageable than a college student. In junior college you spend7 hours a day 5 days a week in the same classroom along with about 25 other students having your school day being structured by others. In high school turning in late work is 80% of the time acceptable for example, the oldest excuses that has been use for years such as “I left my homework at home or I forgot it in my locker” most of the time works. Most teachers’ will go a little easier and say something like be more responsible with turning your work in on time and bring it tomorrow and the consequence would be a couple of points being taken off. Makeup work or missing an exam because you were absent from school for reasons such as being ill/sick or any other reason as too why you were absent from school is another benefit as to being a high school student you won’t receive the grade of an “0” on the day of because you wasn’t present for class normally the teacher will allow 1 or 2 days for makeup work to be turn in. They will also remind you of incomplete work, upcoming test/exams, or project due dates. Some high school teachers give extra credit to help boost the student’s failing grade if needed. However, attendance is very important most high school’s attendance policy states by law that students are not suppose to miss up to 10 days a semester or 20 days a school year from any scheduled course that the student is currently enroll in or the student will automatically fail that course with no exceptions.
When becoming a first time college student most refers the college life to the saying “stepping into the real world” whether you are enroll in a community college or an university. You become an adult and can no longer rely on your parents for motivation however, most still have their support. Some students go to college not for education purposes but because it’s an opportunity of freedom. Parents are not there to stand in between them and their temptations they become involve in social activities for example, fraternity and sorority are 2 major activities that students engage in and eventually neglect their academics. Attending college is not mandatory. There is no law that says one must attend college after graduating from high school; college is voluntary and expensive compared to the cost of high school but with the help from the government providing financial aid (FAFSA) to help with the cost of college for low income families. One must take very much advantage of this opportunity if it is being offered and maintain good grades to continue to keep receiving financial aid. The average class size in a college classroom could number around a total of a 100 students. The time spent in college is about 12 to 16 hours a week not including study time managing your own time.
If considering in going to college, one must be willing to handle several responsibilities because unlike high school turning in late work is not acceptable for example, in college if the work is not turn in on time the work is considered late and most will receive an “O” with no excuses or exceptions. Makeup test are seldom an option in college if not present on the day an exam is given 90% of the time the exam grade will result in a “0”. Just like high school college does have an attendance policy as well; not all professors take roll every class period. A professor doesn’t always call the roll to see who is not in attendance they are likely to know the ones that are present. Being responsibility hits hard in the college life. It is your responsibility to keep up with that course syllables never expect to be reminded of missing work, due dates, or when there will be an exam given. If failing a course at midterm studying hard and having faith that you will ace that final exam are the only options there are if plans are to walk out that course successful. No extra credit is given in college.
High school and college are both a challenge. The largest challenge for students is remaining organize. College students have a lot more flexibility and responsibilities than high school students. Expectations get higher as you progress. The amount of work given to complete and the amount of time that has to be put into studying seems to be the most difficult part but staying focus is the main key while high school and college both have their own significant differences pertaining to the major influences that it has on one’s social life, rules and regulations, responsibilities, and the attendance policy. The main purpose of both high school and college is earning an education in the field of a study that interests you.
Reference Page http://smu.edu/alec/transition.asp http://www.brighthub.com/education/college/articles/71047.aspx
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/youthoptions/pdf/yogendif.pdf