5 Ways High School Prepares You for College Life

If college is the gateway to the real world, then high school is the long highway that precedes it. After four years of high school, you might feel as though you are totally unprepared for the challenges of higher education. Although pumped-up academic standards are a big part of the college transition, being a college student also calls for independence, maturity, and responsibility.

How Does High School Prepare You for College?  

Succeeding in college requires more than just strong academic skills — it’s also your first taste of adulthood and all the responsibilities that go along with it. Here are five ways that high school prepares you for college life and how to use those skills to your advantage on campus.

#1 Academic Preparation 

According to the Harvard Admissions team, a high school education should not only prepare students for rigorous college courses, but also encourage them to “take advantage of future learning opportunities of all kinds.” It’s true that honors, AP, and IB courses are created in the image of college classes. These courses help you develop critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills essential for college academics — preparing you for college while you’re still in high school.

Additionally, you’ll encounter a variety of class atmospheres, instructors, and testing styles in college. Some college courses are large with just one final, while others are very small with multiple tests leading up to a course final.

High school classes prepare you for this by implementing a variety of teaching and testing styles to mimic the different exam schedules you may face in college.

Here are some other ways high school prepares you academically for college:

• Study skills: High school assignments, projects, and exams help you cultivate effective study habits, including time management, organization, note-taking, and research skills. These are fundamental for navigating the demands of college coursework.
• Written and oral communication: Through essays, presentations, and class discussions, you can hone your written and verbal communication skills, which are vital for expressing ideas clearly and participating in college-level discourse.
• Research skills: High school often introduces students to research methodologies, including evaluating sources and synthesizing information — though we also recommend doing independent research projects to stand out in college admissions!

#2 Social and Emotional Preparation  

Of course, college is much more than just academics. It’s an opportunity to learn how to be an adult and meet people from all walks of life. When you think about it, high school prepares you for this aspect of college life, too. While you may not have complete autonomy in high school, you are learning essential life skills and developing social maturity, which will serve you well in college and beyond.

• Independence and self-management: High school provides increasing autonomy, requiring you to manage your time, responsibilities, and personal life with less direct supervision.
• Interpersonal skills: Participation in extracurricular activities, group projects, and social interactions in high school help you develop teamwork, collaboration, communication, and conflict resolution skills necessary for building relationships and navigating diverse college communities.
• Relationship building: Forging relationships with your high school teachers is good practice for your college years, when talking with your professors and attending their office hours can make or break your grade. Additionally, teacher recommendations are just as important in college as they are in high school. Every class you take is a networking opportunity, so present your best self to your teacher. It’ll pay off when you start applying for grad school, internships, and even full-time jobs!
• Adaptability and resilience: Facing academic challenges, managing extracurricular commitments, and navigating social dynamics in high school promotes adaptability and resilience, which can help you cope with the inevitable challenges of college.
• Self-awareness and goal setting: High school encourages you to explore your interests, strengths, and values, aiding in your self-discovery and the initial stages of setting academic and career goals that will inform your college choices.

#3 Practical Skills and Exposure 

High school provides a crucial foundation that directly prepares you for the realities of college life and beyond. While the academic knowledge you build in high school is important, you also learn the competencies you need for independent living and navigating a new environment.

• Time management and organization: Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and social life in high school necessitates developing strong time management and organizational skills, directly applicable to the less structured environment of college. You learn to prioritize tasks, create schedules, and meet deadlines.
• Consequences and responsibility: Unlike elementary or middle school, high school often comes with more significant consequences for missed deadlines or unorganized work. This teaches you the importance of being accountable for your responsibilities — a skill that is crucial for success in college. After all, professors won’t chase you down for assignments.
• Exposure to diverse perspectives: Interacting with a diverse student body and engaging in discussions on various topics in high school can broaden your perspectives and prepare you for the diverse viewpoints you’ll encounter in college.
• Extracurricular involvement: Participating in clubs, sports, and volunteer activities allows you to explore interests, develop leadership skills, and demonstrate commitment, all of which can contribute to a more well-rounded college experience.

#4 Financial Literacy 

Through dedicated courses, practical projects like budgeting simulations, or even managing earnings from part-time jobs or internships, you can gain exposure to the fundamental concepts of financial literacy, helping you prepare for college during high school. This foundational knowledge is crucial for navigating college expenses, including tuition, housing, and daily living costs.

Developing financial literacy can also help you prevent common financial pitfalls like excessive student loan debt or credit card mismanagement, giving you greater financial independence.

• Part-time jobs and allowances: Many high schoolers have their first experiences earning and managing money through part-time jobs or allowances. This introduces concepts like budgeting, saving, and understanding the value of money.
• Introduction to costs: While not always explicit, discussions around college costs, especially with your family, can give you a sense of the financial realities of higher education.
• Basic money management: Some schools or parents might introduce basic financial literacy, covering topics like bank accounts, credit cards (and their dangers), and the importance of responsible spending. These skills are critical for college students who will be managing their own expenses, sometimes for the first time.

#5 Utilizing Support Systems and Advocacy 

Even though you are learning how to be more independent, it’s also important to seek support and resources when needed. High school teaches you the importance of self-advocacy, such as approaching teachers for clarification, asking for help with your grades, or requesting extensions when genuinely needed.

Proactively meeting with your school counselor for college prep guidance is also an important form of self-advocacy. This skill is crucial in college, since you must proactively seek out resources like professors’ office hours, writing centers, or academic advisors.

Be Better Prepared for College Life with IvyWise 

High school is an important time of personal and academic growth — this is why admissions committees review all four years of high school. However, you may not get as much guidance as you need at school to navigate high school successfully and set up a strong foundation for college.

IvyWise college admissions counselors have small caseloads, ensuring that students receive ample personalized attention to help them achieve their academic and personal goals. We offer comprehensive programs that include tutoring and research mentorship, so you have everything you need to be a competitive applicant and gain admission to your top-choice colleges.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2022 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.