Making the Change: Adjusting from High School to College

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The transition from high school to college can be intimidating and scary to think about, but it can be made easier by preparing for the differences. By noting and being ready for these differences, you can set yourself up better for success and not be as taken aback by these changes, some of which you may not even realize are changes.






New Environment

The most obvious difference between college and high school is the environment, and I do not just mean the physical environment but the social one as well. For most students, this is the first time they have ever lived outside of their home for an extended period of time, and on top of that you’re potentially living with someone you do not know that well. Also, unlike high school, you are surrounded by people you don’t know from all corners of the country and world instead of your friends and classmates you have known all of your life.


My advice on adjusting to this new environment is to explore. Personally, on my second day on campus as a new student I got up early and walked to all of my classes. This as well as participating in Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) helped me familiarize myself with the campus. To adjust to sharing a room, I suggest communicating with your roommate, especially before you get on campus. By establishing communication and setting boundaries/“ground rules” for your room beforehand, it can help out later in the semester. Even if you are rooming with your best friend from home, it’s important for both of you to acknowledge that you are living in a shared space and for you both to give each other time to adjust to this new living situation. Outside of the room, making friends can be intimidating as you are meeting a lot of new people in a short period of time. Typically, there are online groups where you can meet people before going to school, but if that isn't your speed and if you prefer to meet people organically, again BGR is a great way to meet people. BGR, Purdue’s freshman orientation program, is one of the best in the country and it’s important to take advantage of this program. Clubs and your residence hall are other good ways to build community as well as inside the classroom.

Schedule Differences

The college schedule is extremely different from the high school schedule, as it is a lot more flexible. In high school, most people take about seven classes a day with work, clubs, or sports after school, whereas in college you may have up to four or five classes in one day or you may have none. As nice as that might sound, it’s important to remember that your college classes are more content heavy in comparison to high school classes. Time management is extremely important in college. Personally, I sit down every Sunday night and go through what all I have going on that week. I write down everything in my personal schedule and make myself a rough itinerary for what I need to get done each day while giving myself time blocks to do it. I also utilize the calendar app on my phone so I can get reminders as to when I have meetings or assignments due. While you may not need to be as detail-oriented when it comes to planning as I am, it still is important to keep track of all you have going on in some way, shape, or form to avoid falling behind.


Self-Advocacy

Another major difference that a lot of students may not think about until they get to college is that in college you have to advocate for yourself. Unlike high school, your parents cannot advocate for you by calling the school or emailing your professor. In college it is important to learn to become your own advocate. Although it may be intimidating, it is okay to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask your professor or TA questions, as they want you to succeed. Office hours are a great opportunity to ask for help from your professor or TA. Along with that, several programs, including the Women in Engineering department, offer free tutoring as well if you find yourself struggling in class. For issues outside of the classroom, do not be afraid to reach out to other sources to help as well. Your RA is a great resource, as well as CAPS, PUSH and several other services offered by Purdue that can help with a range of things.

 

Voluntary

Unlike high school, nearly everyone at college is choosing to be there, as well as paying to be there. This creates a change in overall mindset among students, as school becomes even more important and you are choosing what classes you want to take. That being said, you should enjoy what you are doing in class. You should not feel confined to your major, and it is totally okay to change majors at any point of your college career. Especially within engineering, sometimes students come in wanting to pursue one type of engineering and end up pursuing another. Thanks to Purdue’s First Year Engineering program, it is easy to see bits and pieces of all types of engineering to help make this decision easier. It also helps to take off some pressure, as it does not have you pick a type of engineering until the end of your freshman year of college, rather than the beginning of your senior year of high school. Like I said, if you change your mind down the road after the end of freshman year, that’s fine as well, as oftentimes engineering credits transfer nicely between the different disciplines.

Class Sizes

The last difference I’ll be covering is the difference in class sizes. Especially with 100 level classes, big lectures with over 100 students can be common. Although this can be intimidating, as most high school classes have maybe 30 students maximum, there are plenty of ways to make a big class feel small. Sitting in the front is an easy way to do this. Bigger lectures have a few TAs assigned to the course, and those TAs usually have a recitation or a lab that you are assigned to along with 20-30 other students. Professors and TAs all offer office hours as well, and office hours are a great time to not only ask for help but to also get to know your professor and TA better. By forming these relationships with your professors and TAs, it is easier to ask for and receive help.



Overall, college is a different ball game than high school. It’s definitely an adjustment, but by preparing and staying true to yourself it can be done. If you have any questions, comments, or more, feel free to tag us, leave a comment, or follow us. 

Emily Helmuth, Civil Engineering

WE Link Leadership Team


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