The Differences Between Secondary Education and University Education

A few weeks before I completed my secondary education, I was already submitting applications to several universities and colleges as my preparations for entering the higher education level to become a university or college student and start on a new phase in my life. I was also thinking what and how would college life be like compared to the time I spent as a secondary school student. When my application to a university was approved, I began to make several preparations such as reading some materials provided by the university where I got accepted, and I viewed various Internet websites of organisations dedicated for students.


The online articles I read from several websites discussed the experiences that the individuals would go through as they make the transition from secondary school education to the higher education level. The online articles also included discussions on the differences between the secondary education level  compared to the higher education level. So I want to share with everyone about the differences between the secondary education and the higher education level institutions such as universities and colleges especially for the secondary school students in their final year or the students who are about to enter the universities or colleges.


The primary difference between a secondary school and a higher education institution is the rented accommodations since you would normally study at a university or college that is located at a long distance from your home. However, it is a good thing that I am studying at a university within the city and is just a 30 minute ride from our family home in the suburb.


The other differences are the class size and the teaching methods. A typical secondary school classroom could range from ten to 15 students per room compared to the more than 50 students in the lecture hall of a university or college. The teaching method in secondary schools would use the direct face-to-face teaching of the teacher with his students. Aside from the face-to-face lecturing method used by the lecturer, he could use other teaching methods such as tutorials, computer-based or online learning, laboratory or field work, or take home exams.