I am graduating college: Here is what I learned
As you move from high school to college, one of the biggest challenges will be how different studying patterns for exams can be. The good news is that there is quite a larger overlap between high school and college than you may think. There are some significant differences, that if you prepare for mentally, will help you adjust to college much faster.
Let’s take a look at those differences in studying patterns and what they may mean for you.

High School
- High school exams cover topics that are narrower and more specific
- Studying for a high school exam will require frequent, but short, studying
- High school exams are usually more spaced out, given their frequency, it is easier for teachers to avoid overwhelming students
- High school exams rarely, if ever, require outside reading. Most of the material required for the exams are provided by the teachers
- High school students have more consistency throughout the year, and teachers give a lot of hints and tips on what will be covered on the exams
- When studying for a high school exam or test, students usually only have to worry the material they covered since the last exam
College
- College exams cover topics that are broader, more encompassing, and cumulative
- Studying for college exams will require constant and long-periods of studying
- College professors are only concerned with their class, and so, if you are taking a few classes at the same time, you can expect two or three exams on the same day
- College students will usually have to do a lot of outside reading when studying for their exams. Having to manage the large amount of reading will require you to develop a new study routine at works best for you
- There are fewer exams and tests in college to contend with, and so it can be difficult to gauge exactly what will be covered on the exams
- College students can expect any material covered since the first day of class
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