| In high school | In college |
|---|---|
| Your time and schedule was structured by others. | You must manage your time and choose how to spend it. |
| You were told what to learn and often how to learn it. Learning was teacher-focused. | You must figure out what to learn and how to learn it. Learning is student-focused. |
| You needed your parents’ permission to participate in extracurricular activities. | You must choose whether to participate in co-curricular activities, and which fit best with your academic, personal, and other goals. |
| You could count on parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and to give regular guidance in setting priorities. | You must set your own priorities and take responsibility for achieving them. |
| You attended class 5 days a week and proceeded from one class directly to another. | You often have hours between classes and may not attend classes every day. Much of your work will happen outside of class time. |
| Most of your classes were determined by school counselors. | You must choose which classes to take in consultation with faculty and academic advisers. Your schedule may look easier than it actually is. |
| Students are not responsible for knowing what is required to graduate or tracking their own progress. | Students are expected to select their own majors and/or minors and are expected to learn the graduation requirements for their programs of study. |
| Summary: Students are told what to do and corrected if their behavior is not in line with expectations. | Summary: Students are expected to take responsibility for their path and academic success, as well as the consequences and rewards of their actions. |