People that have not experienced both may think that high school and college are not that different, but that is actually very far from the truth. High school is relatively less stressful than college, and students are more dependent on their teachers. In high school— at least my high school— the teachers constantly reminded us about assignments and tests to make sure we were on track. They would even call us aside to talk if they thought that we were struggling. In college, assignments and other tasks are not mentioned nearly as much, and if you miss a day, then it is your obligation to make sure you are caught up. If you are struggling, then you need to reach out to your professor yourself.
One of the most drastic differences is the money. In high school, I probably spent a little over a hundred dollars in school supplies for the duration of my entire high school career. In college, thousands of dollars are spent yearly. Community college can be a much cheaper option, but books can still cost hundreds of dollars, which is astounding. Costly books, websites, or even games that classes may require are typically only used for one semester, or not at all. In 2020, it was estimated that college students spend about $1,240 on books per academic year.
Another difference would be location and transportation. In high school, students still live at home in most cases, and buses are provided if a student is not able to drive or be dropped off at school. In college, most students— mostly first years— live in dorming residences on campus, and as the years pass, they may eventually get a place near or on campus. As for transportation, most colleges provide some form of transportation, but first year students typically do not have a car on campus, so getting around can be a little troubling. Personally, I do not know where the bus stops are on campus, and I do not know the bus schedule yet. Thankfully, I am able to walk to all but one of my classes.
Classes are another huge difference. High school classes tend to run on the smaller side, and they are around 45-minutes-long, whereas college classes are typically larger, longer, and they consist of about 60 or more students in a classroom. In large lectures, classes can have over 100 students. In high school, you have the same class every day, but in college, the classes you have, as well as how many you have, vary everyday. School days can start and end at different times each day, but high school runs on the same schedule unless there is an occasional half day or two-hour-delay. In high school, teachers always warn students about how much harder college is and that professors are much stricter. However, most of my professors are pretty laid back. In a typical college classroom, you are not directly called out to answer questions, and professors do not come to you about missing assignments or a low test grade. You are expected to reach out to them yourself if you are struggling or need assistance completing your assignments.
Ultimately, high school and college are on completely different spectrums. In high school, I never had to worry about being off track or missing a day. I could also talk to my teacher when I was struggling immediately. If you were to ask me if I prefer high school or college, I would have to say college, even though it is more difficult, more stressful, and more expensive. College is getting me closer to my dream job— the profession I have been drawn towards since the second grade. While high school was easier for me, I feel relieved and accomplished in all the effort that I am putting into my studies in college that I will need for my profession. While in high school, my accomplishments were for my diploma so that I could pursue the education needed for what I actually wanted to do in my life.