Academic transitions

How Is College Different From High School?
Academics in High School v. College

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HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE
Class attendance is usually mandatory and monitored carefully. Attendance policies may vary with each instructor. But professors are likely to know whether or not you attended. Lack of attendance may affect your grade.
Guidance is provided for students so that they are aware of graduation requirements. Graduation requirements are complex and vary from major to major. You are expected to know the requirements for your major. You are also responsible for monitoring your progress towards your degree.
Teachers generally check and grade your completed homework. Professors assume homework is completed in time and you are able to perform the same tasks on a test.
Teachers often write information on the board or overhead to be copied for notes. Professors may lecture nonstop, expecting you to identify the important points for your notes. If they write on the board, it may be to support the lecture, not summarize it. You must take good notes.
Teachers provide you with information you missed when you were absent. You are expected to get information from classmates when you miss a class.
Teachers often take time to remind you of assignments and due dates. You are expected to read, save, and refer back to the course syllabus to know exactly what is expected of you, when assignments are due, and how you will be graded.
Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance. Professors are open and helpful, but they expect you to initiate contact when you need assistance.
Study time outside class may be as little as 0 to 2 hours per week. You need to study about 3 hours outside of class for every hour in class.
Initial test grades, especially when low, may not have adverse effect on your grade. First tests are often "wake up" calls to let you know what is expected. They may also account for substantial part of your course grade.
Makeup tests are often available. In general, makeup test are allowed only under extenuating circumstances.
Mastery is usually seen as the ability to reproduce what you were taught or to solve the kinds of problems you were shown how to solve. Mastery is often seen as the ability to apply what you've learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems.