Bridging the Gap: The Diverging Worlds of High School and College/University

Article by Dania Bajwa

Prologue 

It’s a crisp Monday morning in the somewhat unsettling month of September. The air is fresh, yet unfamiliar. Gripping tightly to the straps of your new bag, laptop compartment and all, you look up at the intimidating buildings that tower over you. It’s all so different from the tightly packed hallways of your high school. Looking around the never-ending landscape of the campus, you can’t help but notice how much space there is – an upgrade, no doubt, from the constant annoyance of bumping into others on the way to English class. But a part of you hesitates at the vastness of this new world and wonder what your place is in all of this. You, a seemingly insignificant being, stands hesitantly as upper-year students pass in a bustle around you. Gripping their lattes, they have an assertive look in their eyes that exudes tunnel-vision focus; they know what they’re doing, where they’re going, and where they want to be. You don’t even know the directions to your first class of the day. Still, you tread along the campus walkway, trying to make sense of this sort of maze that time has placed you in.

You find yourself assigned the impossible task of bridging two divergent worlds. But really, it’s all in that first step. Dare to take it. The rest of the bridge will unfold as you stay grounded on this new path. A new world, yes, but not a daunting one.

The Realm of Academia

Schedule

Your high school schedules will look a lot denser than your post-secondary ones. In the world of college and university, you are offered much more flexibility in when you want to acquire your education. Take this to your advantage: enroll in class times that suit your learning needs. Not a morning learner? Not a problem. As a post-secondary student, you have the luxury of taking classes that start in the afternoon. Remember to keep in mind your commute when developing your schedule. You can also schedule days off to create shorter weeks – but before you do, ask yourself: can I learn productively with six or more hours of class in one day? Know yourself, know your learning needs, then schedule accordingly.

Workload (Time Management)

Don’t make the mistake of fooling your lighter schedule for a lighter workload. Each class in college or university carries a heavy workload that must be managed responsibly. Once classes begin, it doesn’t take long for seemingly distant, looming midterms to become a stark, impending reality. Time management is the key to success here: use planners to keep track of deadlines and outline daily goals you hope to achieve. This all sound familiar? Clearly, these two distinct worlds aren’t so different after all – they converge at the formulas for success.

Class Size

The tight-knit classes of high school aren’t very prevalent in college or university. However, that isn’t to say a sense of community cannot be nurtured in the post-secondary world. Keep an open mind when interacting with classmates because small class sizes and profound friendships don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Avail opportunities like frosh programs to form acquaintances. Schools like Schulich, in particular, that are characterized by their small class sizes, really help foster the familiar feeling of a tight-knit, community-like setting in the classroom.   

The Post-Secondary Lifestyle

The Responsibility Masked Behind the Freedom

As a college or university student, you are in control of how your day is to unfold. Will you attend class today? Will you risk running late to a lecture for a cup of coffee? Will you do your reading for your class tomorrow or watch an episode of your favourite show? The answers all lie with you. This level of control would feel rather foreign, since, in high school, you’re used to being told what to do. But in the post-secondary world, your professor won’t constantly be reminding you to buy your textbooks. Freedom, yes, but not without great responsibility. Take this as a much-needed dose of adulting that will prime you for your entry into the real world. Let’s take it one world at a time, though.

Social Life

The vast number of students bustling around campus can be dreadfully overwhelming. But it is through this significance in size that you can find all kinds of people, each with their unique backgrounds, interesting stories, and passionate plans for the future. Yes, they are new people. But so were once your high school friends when you were a freshman there. It is in the post-secondary world that you find some of your lifelong friends, so take time in forming friendships. Motivate each other during times of stress. Have study sessions together. Celebrate triumphing a finals season. Remember that it’s also ok – great, really – to stay in touch with your high school friends as well. Embarking on a new journey never means cutting off the experiences you’ve gathered in a previously completed one.

Extracurriculars

The common ground between these two worlds also lies within the concept of extracurriculars, though the post-secondary world offers a much wider breadth of options. Don’t feel afraid to explore different avenues of extracurricular activity. But don’t overburden yourself either. Do things for yourself; don’t worry about what your résumé is “supposed” to look like. This is the time to immerse yourself in concepts and environments that interest you, engage you, and perhaps, most importantly, inspire you.

Living on Campus

If you are delving into the post-secondary experience by living on campus, your freedom and, as a result, responsibility, are magnified manyfold. Remember from above: controlling daily decisions in your life is comforting but can prove disastrous if not taken with immense responsibility. Experiencing dorm life also entails a heavier focus on your health. Living on your own means you’re in charge of your laundry, sleep schedule, and meals, just to name a few. And no, a latte isn’t a valid substitute for lunch.

Diversity

Due to the very nature of a post-secondary institution as a provider of education for the masses, compared to a typical high school, you will see a lot more diversity on campus. The cultural mosaic is truly embodied in colleges and universities across the country. Schools like Schulich, in particular, embed diversity into its roots. Leverage this diversity to create social circles that represent various backgrounds and personalities. And perhaps, more importantly, take pride in the diversity your school brings.  

Chapter 1

As you enter this new, post-secondary world, it’s natural to have moments of reminiscence of your high school years – it doesn’t at all mean that you’re latching onto the past. Continue nurturing the moments and friendships you’ve developed through your high school career. But don’t become a closed book. Let moments and friendships transgress the confines of four years of high school. It’s not unfamiliarity you sense in the crisp, September air. It’s opportunity. The next couple of years hold so many more captivating stories for you. Go on. Flip the page.