Although I have not been in college for that long, it is as clear as day how different the experience is compared to high school. One big difference is the amount of work. In high school, we would work on a project in class for about two weeks, and it would be due at the end of that second week. We would have plenty of time to work on projects and assignments because we would do them in class and all work on them together while getting help from the teacher. In college, you have to figure it out on your own. You do a ton of studying in the class, a ton of taking notes, and a ton of paying attention. You have to pay very close attention in college because most of the professors teach at a very fast pace and won’t slow down just because one student can’t keep up. After all of that studying and note taking you will only have about three days to complete the assignment. If you can’t keep up and pay attention then it will be very hard to get good grades in the classes.
Another big difference is getting ahold of professors. In high school, you can just walk up to the teacher and ask them questions or go up to them during their lunch break and talk to them. It is way easier to get ahold of high school teachers because they are a lot less busy. In college, the professors are teaching during the entire class and don’t have much time for answering big questions. Emailing usually doesn’t work because most professors are very busy and don’t have much time to check their email. The best option is going to their office during their office hours, but sometimes their office hours don’t work with your schedule. It’s not as easy as just walking up to their desk and asking some questions like in high school.