Differences between High School and University

Leaving secondary school and entering postsecondary study is a big adjustment for many students. If your
student is aware of some of these differences, they will be better prepared for the changes 
in attitudes
and behaviours necessary for success. Some of the differences between high school and university are as
follows:

Classes are usually larger than those in secondary school and there are many more students on the
university campus.

Students are responsible for making their own class schedules and following them conscientiously.

Instruction is primarily through lecture format with students taking notes independently.

Familiarity with library resources and effective use of libraries is essential.

Student progress and attendance is not generally closely monitored by instructors.

Students need to be self-directed and are expected to be independent.

There is, generally, less ongoing contact with instructors and less individual attention unless initiated by
students.

There are fewer hours of in-class time and many more hours of homework and independent study per
course.

Classes may have a lab or tutorial session located in a different room or building, and may be facilitated by
a teaching assistant.

Professors and teaching assistants often hold office hours each week for students to drop in to chat or ask
questions about assignments and class topics.

Course textbooks or required readings are not provided by the University; they must be purchased from a
bookstore or borrowed from a library.

Not all course materials are in the form of textbooks, they may be individual scholarly articles that students
will need to locate in academic journals available in the libraries.

Group projects are often required so students need to work well with others.

Grades can often be based on only two or three test results, or a major essay/project and a few exam
results.

Time management and planning are critical to success. Procrastination can lead to serious academic
difficulties.

Failing to meet progression requirements and/or failing two or more courses may result in being asked to
withdraw from the program and from the University.

If you’re in high school and planning to go to university, you might be unsure about what you’ve signed
up for.

What is university going to be like? How will I find my classes? How many people are going to be in my
class?

These are all valid questions, and I had them too before I started at Waterloo. So for answers to these
questions and many more, read on for some of the biggest differences between university and high school.

You have flexibility with how you want your week to be.

You're in charge of yourself

At my high school, if I didn’t show up to a class, my mom would get a phone call, and I’d get a “talking-to.”
However, in university, there’s no attendance list. Whether or not you show up is up to you – but
remember, you’re paying for the class whether you attend or not.

It’s worth noting though that some classes will take attendance as part of a participation mark, but for the
most part nobody is holding you accountable to show up for class. It’s your choice to attend class and do
your work – not your teacher’s and not your parents’. Nobody is going to tell you to do that assignment –
it’s up to you to get it done!

This freedom can be exciting, but remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Not being
hounded to go to class and do your work can often present a challenge, especially for a master
procrastinator. But don’t worry too much, soon after starting school you’ll get an understanding of what
works for you and how you can motivate yourself to get work done.

Lots of other first-year students are going through this at the same time – and you’ll figure it out...

At the start of your new-found freedom, you might find yourself staying up too late all the time, not
spending money wisely, or making other decisions that you may not have in high school. This is pretty
common, so don’t beat yourself up if you do it too! Soon enough, you’ll learn how to succeed on your own.

It can be challenging to figure out a new schedule, create a budget, and figure out transportation, but
remember that lots of other first-year students are going through this at the same time – and you’ll figure it
out in due time.

Independent learning

In university, you’ll do a lot of learning outside of regular class hours. Readings and assignments are just as
important as content covered in lectures. For some classes, you’ll be in a classroom for only three hours a
week, but you’ll spend much more time doing readings on your own. This can be hard to get used to!

When I was in high school, all new content was covered in class and homework was only to reinforce what I
already learned. So, when I got to university and started doing learning on my own, I found it difficult.
However, by now, I am used to it and I actually like doing some independent learning.

Flexible schedule

Whether you went to a semestered or non-semestered high school, you probably had school during the
same time, every day of the week.

In university, you'll no longer have a set time for school and you'll often have lots of time between classes.

I love having gaps between my classes because they're the perfect time to grab a meal, hang out with
friends, get involved with Waterloo's clubs and sports, and study. You have flexibility with how you want
your week to look like.

Distance between classes

Moving from elementary school to high school, I remember how exciting it was to be able to switch
classrooms at the end of class. But now, rather than moving from classroom to classroom, you will likely be
going from building to building after every class.

In high school, most classes are in one building. At Waterloo (and most other universities), classes are
spread out in buildings all over campus! This can be difficult for the first little while – I know that I got lost
more than I care to admit! However, during your first week at Waterloo there will be people stationed
around campus to help you get around, and the school has some impressive signage.
But honestly, I still get lost sometimes when I’m going to a building or classroom I’ve never been to before.
Now, getting lost doesn't faze me (all part of the adventure!), but if I’m going somewhere new, I always
give myself a few extra minutes to get there!

All that to say, you'll definitely get a lot more walking and even get the chance to ride your bike around
campus.

You get a lot of resources to help you with your transition to university

Services to help you succeed

One thing that really surprised me when coming to university was that you get a lot of resources to help
you with your transition, such as Waterloo's 101 Days held each summer.

There are not only free academic tutoring sessions, but there are many Waterloo services ranging from
counselling to academic advisors and mentorship programs, which can really help you succeed.

You know exactly when ALL your tests and assignments are due

Imagine knowing exactly when each assignment is due, each test and each project, for the entire course on
the first day of school.

Well, this is exactly what a course syllabus tells you, and right on your first day of class, you know exactly
when everything is due for the next 4 months. This really helps you plan out your term – and getting a giant
calendar planner to hang in your room really becomes important!

If you asked me whether I enjoyed high school or university more, I would without a doubt say
university.

The friends you meet will change you

Okay, so although I never technically became friends with the campus geese, I did get to know some of the
most amazing people from across the country and around the world.

Before university, pretty much all my friends were from my hometown. I get to university, and all of a
sudden I’m meeting people from towns I’ve never even heard of. It’s wonderful to meet so many new
people. Your horizons will widen so fast that you might feel like a completely different person within the
first month at school.

I made friends from all over the world within the first few days of university

You may miss some of your friends from high school, but in university, you'll be amazed at how much more
diverse your atmosphere can become.

I made friends from all over the world within the first few days of university, which is something that you'll
need to leave high school to really experience – and something that my fellow ambassador Cai wrote about
in "Feeling like the new kid on the block."

More ways to get involved

University populations are much larger than those of high schools. At your high school, you’re likely used to
hundreds of students. At university, there are thousands.

Sometimes large student populations can be intimidating, but, if you ask me, I think the more students, the
better! More students makes for so many more opportunities to get involved and have fun. Clubs,
societies, and school events are just some of the things that are positively impacted by having lots of
students on campus.

At your high school you probably have some clubs, some sports teams, and one main student government.
At Waterloo, we have 200+ clubs, six faculty societies, 32 varsity sports teams, dozens of intramural sports
teams.
Clubs

As you can likely imagine, our club variety is huge. The Waterboys, Coffee n’ Code, Culture and Language
Exchange Club, DJ Club, and Humans vs. Zombies are just a few of our clubs. If you can’t find a club you like,
or have a great idea for a new club, you can create your own with the help of Feds, our student
government.

Sports

At Waterloo, we have both varsity and intramural sports. Our varsity sport selection is large with 19 sports
and 32 teams, ranging from badminton to rugby. If you’re looking for something with less commitment, try
an intramural sport! Some popular intramural sports are dodgeball, squash, and volleyball.

Student government

At Waterloo, our student government, Feds, is the student union for all undergraduate students. Our
faculty societies are similar, but are small and specific to each of our six faculties (Applied Health Sciences,
Arts, Engineering, Environment, Math, and Science). As well, there are dozens of program societies where
you can meet people in your major.

Faculty and program societies hold events, offer services, clubs, and even free food! Joining a faculty
society is a great way to meet people with similar interests as you and start networking.

If you asked me whether I enjoyed high school or university more, I would without a doubt say
university. The experiences and opportunities you gain during your undergraduate program are beyond
imaginable and incomparable to high school. It's definitely a journey!

If you're starting uni straight after finishing high school, it can be a bit tricky to get your head around how
differently some things work at Western Sydney University (compared to your school).

The biggest difference between high school and university is that you're treated as an adult. That means
you get to take greater control of how you spend your time and what you study. It also means that your
education is your responsibility, no one is going to do it for you.

We know there's a lot to get your head around, so we've put together a list of some the basic differences to
help get you started.
Topic /
High school University
term

Most of the time, attendance is not

Attendance is compulsory and if you miss
roll call, you need a note from your
Attenda
parents (or guardian). During school
nce
hours, students are expected to stay on
school grounds.
taken in lectures, but often is for
tutorials. Attendance and active
participation in these activities is a
strong predictor of student success.
Students are free to come and go from
campus at any time.

Class Your timetable is fixed and your hours You arrange your timetable yourself in
hours strict. accordance with your chosen subjects.

Types of assessments vary and are

Types of The assignment types received in high
designed to encourage critical thinking
assignm school are limited and designed for
and independent learning. Most study
ents straightforward assessment.
work takes place outside class.

Classes, particularly lectures, can be

Class Class sizes are limited and afford you more quite large, especially in your first year.
sizes personal time with your teacher. You may need to organise to speak with
your lecturer outside of class.

Preparing for your class is your

responsibility. This includes managing
Scheduli Teachers organise students work and how
and prioritising your work and getting
ng they should prioritise their study time.
things done on time. Lecturers and
tutors will not prompt you.

Try to resolve the issue with your

lecturer, Director of Academic Program
Grievanc You express your problem with your
or Academic Course Advisor. If that
es teacher, who will report it to the principal.
doesn't work, you should contact the
Complaints Resolution Unit.

Students have access to a range of free

and confidential services including
There are often free school counsellors in
counselling, welfare, disability, academic
Support schools who specialise in providing
support and legal services. It is the
support and support documents.
student's responsibility to seek out these
services.

Your parents or guardians play an

Contact University staff, both administrative and
important role in your schooling life. They
with teaching, can't talk to your parents (or
are in regular contact with your teachers
parents anyone else) about you or disclose your
to help guide you in the right direction.
 information, unless you have signed the
appropriate consent form.

Teachers check your completed

Lecturers are usually open and helpful,
homework, remind you of your
but do not check required reading or
Teachers incomplete work, provide you with
remind you to complete homework. You
vs information you may have missed and
are chiefly responsible for being on top
academi remind you of assignments and due dates.
of your uni work. Academics are trained
cs Teachers are trained in teaching methods
as experts in their particular areas of
to assist in imparting knowledge to
research
students.

TAFE has an extensive range of courses and subject areas that provide practical skills and
vocational training for a considerable variety of careers.

TAFE vs VET is education and training that provides skills and knowledge for the workforce,
VET enhances employability and assists learning throughout life. The VET sector is positioned
between secondary schools and universities and prepares students for employment or
further study. This sector consists of public institutes of TAFE and private colleges
specialising in one or more areas of study related to future work.

The College at Western Sydney University provides students with a pathway into The
The
University. They are committed to providing greater equity and access in tertiary
College
education.

Differen Lecture: A lecture is normally held in a large room or lecture theatre with many students
ces and one lecturer. Students are expected to take relevant notes during the lecture.
between Lectures generally take place before tutorials.
lectures
and Tutorial: Tutorials are small groups of about 25 students and are about one or two hours
tutorials in duration. They provide a forum to discuss and debate the lecture materials and have
an emphasis on student-teacher interaction and class participation.