Is college *that* much harder than high school?

Question

If so, why? If not, why?

What IS harder?

If you study enough, can you get good grades?

Is homework really that bad?

Answer 1

It depends on how you pursue your college career. Do you intend on spending it partying instead of studying? Are relationships going to take the forefront, as opposed to studies? College is not a breeze by any means, but if you take it seriously, you will go far. Do your homework, go to your classes, care about what you are doing and always keep in the front of your mind that this will enable you a better career in the future. If you do that, and if you care enough to make it happen, you will do just fine.

One of the things that happens that pushes some college students back is that they are now distancing themselves from home, ie: parents, rules, curfews, etc., and therefore start to "let loose" a little too much. It's possible to have fun, and be a good student, but all things must be in moderation. If you've got a test to study for, skip the frat party. If you have a big assignment that you need to finish, don't take the day off to hang out with that hot college guy you've been crushing on since the start of English 201. Instead, be logical in your pursuits, and you will go far. The hard part is knowing when to say no.

The homework is a little tougher because there is a lot less stringency in the guidelines. For instance, if you have a sheet of questions to answer, not all the answers may be in your textbook. You may have to find other sources, and look them up. Also, your teachers aren't going to be as lenient, because you are one of thousands of students, and they may not know you by name, and you may have only one class with them for the entirety of your college career. They only expect of you what you need to do as a student, and no less. If you don't study, you may not be given a make up exam. If you don't hand in your homework on time, you can't hand it in at all. It's not late, its a zero. They don't care if you miss class, because it doesn't affect them--it only affects you. And usually, there is nothing like the Regents exam to save your butt if you fail the class all year long. You can't just pass the test, and then pass the class.

I'm sure you will be just fine when its time for you to start college. Just remember that college is a choice. It's a lot of money, a lot of effort and a lot of time to just throw it to the dogs.

Answer 2

It really depends on what schools you've attended (both high school and college), what you're studying, and how you are as a student.

Personally, I didn't really find much if any difference between high school and my first year of college. Granted, I spent last year doing gen-eds, so I may change my tune once I start working on my actual degree next week -- but I'm a Communications major, so maybe not. I've always gotten good grades, but I found both high school and college to be easy to the point of boredom. However, I have a friend who attended the same high school and college as me, and she found college to be much more challenging. This can probably be chalked up to the fact that she's an Engineering major. Anything in the math/science area is probably going to be harder than the liberal arts.

Answer 3

It depends what your major is and how college geared your high school is, but it is definitely manageable. The biggest difference you will notice are how few grades your receive. Most classes don't give much, if any (especially in science classes) homework, so your only grades are from tests. There are on average 3-5 tests, so you cant afford to mess one up or it screws your overall grade. The lack of homework also makes it really important to study on your own because you aren't getting anything to reinforce what is being taught in class. My best tip- read ahead of time, so you know what is going on when the teacher covers it in class. It gives you the opportunity to ask questions and you'll be grateful you read a little each day instead of having to cram a ton of information right before a test. Good Luck!!

Answer 4

College is about 10 times harder then high school. If you dont study in high school and get just average grades you wont do very good in college. It is typically suggested that you study 1 hour for every hour of class time. I studied 2 hours and was just a C student. No one has ever questioned my intelligence, there is just a lot of information they want you to know. I used to get B's in high school without studying. You coulnd even pass a college class without studying the minimum recommended study time.

Answer 5

It's not that it harder, it's just different.

Yes, there is a lot of work. There is a lot of writing your freshman year. There is a TON of reading; and you are the only person responsibly for getting to class. The profs could really care less if you're there (of course there are exceptions to professors, some aren't like that)

That's why it's generally best to live on campus. You have a good chance of sticking with it because you're surrounded with college life. Everyone around you is going towards the same goal and you make some great friends!

Have fun!

Answer 6

Yes college is much harder than high school. I hope by now you get the pattern of difficulty, because ever time you increase a grade level the workload becomes harder.

Answer 7

College IS more difficult that high school only because you are taking courses for your career. They want you to concentrate more on your core classes, but you also have to take "general education" courses as well. Those courses are ones like Philosophy, Ethics, Math, Geography, Foreign Language, Statistics, Bible courses (if you go/went to a religious school), World Views, and a few others.

Studying is the master key to getting good grades in college. Please, please, please don't do what I did and have fun and procrastinate. Manage your time wisely and know when to buckle down and study and when to PARTY down and have fun. All play and no work isn't good for a future doctor ro lawyer, or even an aspiring teacher.

The professors and instructors will be there for you, but they mostly want you to learn things on your own. Not all of them will have worksheets you can do to help you learn. Note taking or recording classes are good resources to help you succeed in college. Just be sure that it is ok with the professor or instructor to record their classes, especially if you aren't such a good notetaker. Also, doing all of your reading assignments is a good idea. Read foot notes, side notes, forewords, epilogues, appendices, anything you can read. Some professors are crazy like that and take quiz and test questions from all of those "extra" sources from your reading assignments. Another thing to do to succeed in college is to PAY ATTENTION to everything the professor/instructor says, does, shows. Movies and other media are used in college courses and lots of quiz and test materials are taken from those sources. PAY ATTENTION!!!!!! No matter how boring or irrelevant YOU might think it is, the professor/instructor will think it is VERY relevant and VERY...entertaining (for lack of a better word).

College is for growing and having fun, but it is also for acquiring knowledge and retaining what you learn. Have fun, but study hard. Enjoy the years you have in college. They were the best for me.

Answer 8

Yes, it is that much harder. You have to work really hard. Grades just don't come to you like they do in high school. The papers are really really long and you can have several to do in one semester. You have to read everything (yes the whole chapter) and not just once. You need to be prepared to work, if you are not ready, do your parents wallet a favor and don't go right away.

Answer 9

Well yeah, the campus is twice as larger than the school ground. There are kids from all over the country that go there, over millons, or thousands.
Homework, you got to write over a TEN page ensaye, and if you don't turn it in on time, you fail!Yeah you could good great grades if you study. I know this, booth my parents went to Savanah University, and University of Goergia.

Answer 10

From what I heard from friends, it's A LOT harder.

But from reading what the people that answered your question said.. I'm glad I didn't go. It does not sound worth the trouble when I can support myself fine already.