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Fourteenth Blog Post

Dear High School Senior,

In the book, "The Transition to College Writing" by Keith Hjortshoj, the author does a great job of including five basic, categorical differences between high school and college. As once being a fellow senior preparing for college, I realize how stressful of a time it can be. It's important to keep yourself calm, and become recognized with the significant differences between each level of education. I'm going to explain two differences, that I've experienced throughout my first year in college, and hopefully you can learn a few tips on how you can use these to your own benefit. One basic categorical difference that Hjortshoj uses in his book is, "While high school teachers are usually generalists, college teachers are specialists." As Hjortshoj explains, college professors don't follow the ideas of high school teachers, as they aren't required to follow the given state curriculum. I noticed this, as soon as I started my classes at Defiance College. I recommend taking this opportunity to be surrounded with specialists to your best benefit, as the professors are at the top notch of their given subject. Your professors are here to help you, and they'll have the most accurate answers to all of your intriguing questions. Another basic categorical difference that Hjortshoj uses in his book is, "This variation is most dramatic in the first year." As Hjortshoj explains, this transition is something that's most difficult in the first year. As a college student, you will undergo several different styled classrooms in a given day. In a psychology classroom, you may just sit and take notes, while in a global studies classroom, you'll be interacting throughout classroom discussions. In college, not every class is setup in the same way, and it takes time to adjust to each of the different classroom agendas. While Hjortshoj's basic difference's are a great way to start for incoming freshman looking for tips, it's important to realize the transition is different for each individual. One original difference that I would suggest, is knowing the proper ways to take notes on in class lectures. It's important to not write every word the professor says down, as you must listen for the key ideas or common themes that you notice reappearing throughout the speech. As I hadn't experienced any form of lecture during high school, it's important to become comfortable and notice different ways professor's release key ideas. Another original difference, that I would suggest is, learning to balance the free time between classes. Especially as being a commuter student, it's a goal of mine to have a majority of my homework done before I head home. That's why instead of spending the time between classes on your phone, spend that time on homework assignments. In doing this, you ensure your always on track with your assignments, and allow yourself to have moments of free time to relax and do something you enjoy. The people who lie, and create illusions of college, is certainly not something you should listen to. This kind of lying is something that's not very helpful, as a student can become overwhelmed by the thought of college, and may decide to not go on with higher levels of education. It's important to only trust the experts on differences between high school and college, and make sure you continue to have confidence in yourself, as while the transition may seem rough at the beginning, the road will become smoother through experience. 

Sincerely, 
Brandon- College Freshman at Defiance College   

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