Higher education Essay

College and high school have the same goal; which is to educate students and give them knowledge that will help them along the way in life. They both allow for growth and development, but have two completely different experiences. While high school is mandatory and helps prepare students for college academically, it can also teach life lessons that will never be forgotten. College is typically for students who would like to continue their education at a higher level and work towards achieving their career goals. College and high school are both stepping stones towards a brighter future. The majority of students in America have attended high school. It is a requirement for students ages 13-18. Students are required to complete grades 9-12, or have a certain amount of high school credits to receive a high school diploma. In California, the â€Å"CAHSEE† has to be passed. The CAHSEE is the â€Å"California High School Exit Exam† which ensures that students are able to complete grade level math, writing, and reading. On the other hand, college is a place that not every high school student has attended. College is a choice. Some people do not attend college; there are other choices such as working a full time job or even joining the army. College is for students who would like to continue their education to obtain a degree in their field of study. Butler 2 Because high school is mandatory it is also free. Students are only required to pay for items such as yearbooks, class pictures, and prom tickets. College on the other hand, is very expensive. Some colleges, such as the University of Southern California, are over 20,000 a semester. On the other hand, other colleges such as community colleges are not as expensive as private colleges or ivy league schools. They cost about 40 dollars a unit. In college, students have to pay to attend classes, pay for books, and parking passes if they have a car. They also have to pay more if they are planning on living in a dorm or apartment. Student fees such as health fees and ID cards are all required to be paid by certain deadlines if they would like to get classes. College, overall, can be very expensive. Another difference between college and high school is that in college students are able to choose their own classes. There is also more freedom  when choosing classes, students can choose whether to have a class in the morning or at night and the exact times the classes meet. Students are able to choose classes based on interests and depending on what classes are needed to getting a degree in their field of study. If the student wants to drop a class, the student is allowed to. In the first two years of college, general education classes are recommended. In high school, classes are picked for the students based on how the student did in the previous year. Most of the time school starts at a certain time, mostly in the morning, and lets out in the afternoon. There is a routine schedule everyday. If the class is passed, Butler 3 then the student can go to a higher level. The only classes students in high school are able to choose are elective classes. Those are classes like art, choir and band. Classes are also much different in size. If a student attends a university, college classes can contain many students in one class, such as a lecture hall. The class sizes are huge and can contain more than 100 students in one class. Attending a community college, some classes are smaller but not as small as high school classes. In high school, classroom sizes hold about 20 to 30 students. This allows teachers to connect with students in a more intimate way and give that one on one help that may be needed. In college, sometimes students are not given the luxury of having one on one time with a teacher, so the students has to take responsibility and try to contact the instructor or get a tutor if more help is wanted. There are numerous differences between high school and college responsibilities. Entering college can be a wake up call for many new students. Going from high school to college is a big step in life. In college, there are many deadlines that need to be met, such as applying for classes on time and paying fees when they are due. Everyone is responsible for going to class and getting their on time. If students would like to drop a class, the student is responsible for dropping the class, not the professor. College assignments are much harder then high school assignments are. Everything is much more tedious and right to the point. Being a college student, teachers do not have the time to give one on one help, so study time or studying with a group is a must. Being in college really prepares students for the  Butler 4 next step, which is embarking a career. In high school, there are not as many responsibilities. Students are responsible for going to class and passing the classes but even if they decide to â€Å"ditch† a class, the school will usually call the home and inform their parent. Other responsibilities include doing homework and completing assignments. High school is not nearly as strict as college. In college, there is much more freedom. Often times, when students graduate from high school, they attend a school outside of the state or in another city and live in dorms or apartments. This creates even more freedom. Living out of state and attending college can be a whole new experience for a high school graduate. Going to college allows them to â€Å"grow up† and teaches them how to be a responsible adult and do things on their own. There is more freedom because students can pretty much do whatever they want, when they want. In high school there is not much freedom. It is all a routine. Students are forced to go from class to class and stay in class for the whole time period unless there is an excuse for class to be missed. There is no freedom to come and go whenever. Although there are many differences, college and high school have similar aspects such as social life, classes, and earning a degree. Many people start to obtain a social life starting in high school. That is where cliques start to form and people figure out there identity. Many students begin dating and having break ups during high school, as in college. Also, there are many clubs that students can get involved in and build relationships in. In college, general education classes are required. Most Butler 5 times, these classes are review of what was learned in high school such as math, science and English. Students know what general education classes they have to take based on there test scores. High school and college are both very important and should be attended. They are both great experiences and both can be learned from. Many students attending college plan on getting a degree and starting a career in their field of study. College can teach you many responsibilities and techniques that can help in the future. Although high school and college have differences, they can both give knowledge and understanding about the world and what needs to be learned.