​Understanding How High School is Different than College

The transition from high school to college can sometimes prove challenging for parents and children.

While in the broad sense it may seem simple, there are specific topics and situations worth researching during this transition. We hope you find the information below helpful in that process.

• Being an adult also means taking responsibility for their actions. In cases of misconduct, the student is held responsible in college, not the parent.
  
  
• In high school, students can be suspended for disobeying the rules and regulations. In college, students can be dismissed for disregarding rules and regulations.
  
  
• In high school, students can remain in school despite poor academic performance. In college, students can be dropped after one semester for poor academic performance.

• College classes are divided into semesters and don't last the entire year like high school classes. UF has fall, spring and summer semesters in which separate sets of classes begin and end.
  
  
• Grading in college is for the entire semester, unlike high school when there were four grading periods for each class.
  
  
• College professors are not required to interact with parents like high school teachers who are required to hold parent conferences. It is up to your student to interact with their professors as adults. However, this is not to say that Findlay professors will not interact with parents. If you have questions our faculty are certainly willing to assist.
  
  
• Advising in college is similar to high school, but instead of a guidance counselor, your student is assigned to a special academic advisor within their program of study.
  
  
• College classes are held two or three times per week, rather than daily in high school.
  
  
• High school tests were given weekly or biweekly, while college exams are given less frequently. The weeks leading up to final exams at the end of each semester are typically stressful times for college students.