TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR COLLEGE PREPARATION

Ways in Which College and High School Differ

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT HIGH SCHOOL

With Regard to Personal Freedom

• Your time is usually structured by others.

• You need permission to participate in extracurricular activities.

• Need for money is for special purchases or events.

• You could count on someone correcting you if you were not responsible.

With Regard to Disability Needs

Your Individual Education

Program (IEP) prescribes the services that you will receive.

A committee of professionals and your teacher work with your parents and you to create the IEP.

The teachers monitor your progress and recommend adjustments as needed.

COLLEGE

With Regard to Personal Freedom

• Time management is up to you.

• You must decide whether to participate in extracurricular activities.

• Need for money is to meet basic necessities.

• It is your task to balance your responsibilities.

With Regard to Disability Needs

The reports that you present to verify your disability document the existence of your disability and must support the need for the services that you request. You will work with Disability Services to identify the types of accommodations that you may use and how to obtain them. You will need to monitor your progress and whether the accommodations are helping. You will need to request additional assistance, if problems occur.

High school is a TEACHING ENVIRONMENT in which you acquire facts and skills. College is a LEARNING ENVIRONMENT in which you must take responsibility for thinking, reasoning, and applying what you have learned. Awareness of this important difference between high school and college will empower you to prepare for a smoother transition.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT HIGH SCHOOL

With Regard to Instructors

• Teachers check your completed homework.
  

• Teachers remind you of incomplete work.

• Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance.

• Teachers have been trained in teaching methods to assist in imparting knowledge to students.

• Teachers present material to help you understand the material in the textbook.

• Teachers often put information on the chalkboard that is to be copied for notes.

• Teachers seldom require outside sources.

• Teachers impart knowledge and facts.

With Regard to Grades

• Grades are given for most assigned work.

• A baseline of homework grades may help when test grades are low.
  

• Graduation may occur as long as you have passed all required courses with a grade of "D" or higher.

COLLEGE

With Regard to Instructors

• Professors seldom check completed homework.
  

• Professors do not remind you of incomplete work .
  

• Professors expect you to approach them if you need assistance .
  

• Professors have been trained as experts in their fields.
  

• Professors may not follow the textbook. Instead they may give illustrations, provide background information, discuss research about the topic you are studying, or amplify the textbook with additional material.
  

• Professors often lecture nonstop and do not identify the important points in writing.
  

• Professors require library research.
  

• Professors challenge you to think.

With Regard to Grades

• Grades may not be provided for all assigned work.

• Grades on tests provide most of the course grade.
  

• Graduation will occur only if your average in all classes meets the departmental standard, which is usually a 2.0 or "C".

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT HIGH SCHOOL

With Regard to Classes

• You proceed from one class to another .
  

• You spend 6 hours each day or 30 hours each week in class.
  

• The school year is 180 days long (36 weeks).
  

• Your classes are arranged for you Your class attendance is carefully monitored.
  

• Classes generally have a maximum of 35 students.
  

• You are provided with textbooks at little or no expense.

With Regard to Tests

• Testing is given frequently covering small amounts of material.
  

• Makeup tests are often available.
  

• Teachers frequently adjust test dates to avoid conflict with school events.

With Regard to Studying

• You probably studied 0 to 2 hours outside of class.

• You were expected to read short assignments that would be covered in class.

COLLEGE

With Regard to Classes

• Class times vary throughout the day and evening.
  

• You spend 12 to 16 hours each week in class.
  

• The school year is divided into two 14-week semesters plus a week following each semester for examinations (30 weeks).
  

• You will need to arrange your own schedule.
  

• Professors may not check to see if you are in attendance.
  

• Classes may be large in size, some numbering in the hundreds.
  

• You must budget substantial funds to purchase your own textbooks.

With Regard to Tests

• Testing is infrequent and covers large amounts of material. Makeup tests are seldom available.

• Test scheduling is usually listed in the syllabus, the course outline, and is not open to changes related to college events.

With Regard to Studying

• You are expected to study 2 to 3 hours outside of class for each hour in class.
  

• You will be assigned substantial amounts of reading.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF: Old Dominion University Disability Services ORIGINAL FUNDED BY: Virginia Department of Education Virginia Department of Rehabilitation Project Unite Award No. 158A20015