In high school you may be used to:

• Studying less than 10 hours a week to earn As and Bs
• Free or low-cost textbooks
• A structured schedule where you attend class around 30 hours a week
• Parents or guardians who make sure that you complete your homework assignments, attend class and take care of most, if not all, of your finances
• Teachers who offer extra credit, make-up exams, and remind you about assignments and test dates
• Limited reading assignments and time spent reading materials for class

In college you can expect:

• To study at least 25-30 hours a week to earn As and Bs
• Expensive textbooks; it is not unusual to spend $400-$500 on textbooks for a semester
• Going to class less than 15-20 hours a week.    With a few exceptions, you will not be attending the same class every day, and may be attending some of your classes at night.  Some classes meet only one day a week; others meet as many as five days a week
• To be responsible for waking up on time, attending class, finishing and submitting your homework, and managing your own finances
• Professors who will rarely offer extra credit.  They may remind you about assignments and test dates, although most professors convey this information in the Course Syllabus, which is distributed during the first week of class
• Devote a substantial amount of time to reading – and frequently rereading—material for classes.