You’re not in high school anymore

If there’s only one piece of information new students should remember before starting at Pitt,… If there’s only one piece of information new students should remember before starting at Pitt, it’s that college is not high school.

In many ways, I’m simply stating the obvious. A high school education is something most people in the United States have access to, while college is more of a privilege and an expensive one at that. Most college professors don’t require you to ask permission before leaving the lecture to visit the restroom. And few public high schools involve dorms and roommates.

But despite the countless differences, many new students find it difficult to shed their high school skin. Being successful in college both academically and socially means leaving your high school days behind.

First of all, try to wean yourself from the high school “clique mentality.” Remember the jocks and the cheerleaders, the drama dorks and the computer geeks? In most high schools, these groups never mix.

They eat at separate lunch tables and sit in separate areas of the classroom. While there are groups in college who tend to stick together, individual people generally have no problem mixing and mingling with new faces. The days of popularity and “dorkdom” end at the hallowed gates of college.

Second, college is hard work. No, I’m not stating the obvious again. Many new students, fresh from the lax scholastic lifestyle of high school, have no idea what they are getting themselves into. It might have been easy to get straight As in high school without breaking a sweat, but in college, only hard work and effort will get you the good grades.

Also, college professors have much higher expectations than high school teachers. Your high school teacher would probably cut you some slack if your dog ate your homework. But before you start college, you should either think of much better, elaborate excuses or actually do your work. Depending on the class, professors generally do not accept late work. Missed the final because you accidentally slept in? Good luck passing the class, because you probably will not be able to make it up.

When it comes to large lecture courses, it can often be difficult to find the motivation to attend class, let alone do the work. Unlike high school, where some teachers will continuously pester you about repeated absences or late work, most college professors simply do not care.

They don’t and won’t learn your name, and whether or not you attend class makes no difference to them. This means you have to take the initiative if you want to succeed. High school is a teaching environment, while college is a learning environment. Because of this, you have to learn to be a self-motivator.

In high school, watching what you eat is usually a piece of cake. For one thing, students only have to worry about what to eat for lunch and, if you were lucky, your high school provided you with nutritious options.

And since most high school students live at home with their parents, they are able to consume healthy, home-cooked meals on a regular basis. But college is a completely different story. The many restaurants and grocery stores in and around campus are enough to tempt any freshman to eat as much as he can. But if you want to avoid the Freshman 15, you should make sure you stay away from too much ice cream or those late-night pizza orders.

Many new college students sometimes go crazy with their newfound independence. After living in that high school bubble for four years, some freshmen find themselves partying more than they should. Don’t go overboard. There’s nothing wrong with a night of fun every once in a while, but make sure you don’t make it a regular occurrence. Otherwise, you’ll see your grades slip and your opportunities for success decrease.

Similarly, doing well in college has a lot to do with how well you manage your time. In high school, most students have their schedules already planned out for them: school, after school activities or work, home, sleep. It’s not so easy in college, because classes do not always fit in the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. time frame. So, it’s largely your responsibility to organize your study, activity, work and class schedule in the most responsible way.

Clearly, the differences between college and high school are infinite. To ensure your transition into college is smooth, it is essential to leave your high school days where they belong – in the past.

E-mail Elham at elk23@pitt.edu.