Skool is a user-friendly digital learning platform that allows educators to build communities and online courses. With a simple intuitive interface and a strong focus on making the experience enjoyable thanks to its gamification features.
A school generally offers a more structured curriculum, with students following a set course of study until they complete their GCSEs. University, on the other hand, is a lot more flexible and combines the best features of social media and online courses.
1. Flexibility
Regardless of where you study, flexibility is one skill that’s important to develop. It’s a crucial aspect of higher education that allows students to take on new learning experiences that can help them thrive and succeed in their chosen field. Flexibility is also an important aspect of achieving educational equity for nontraditional students who might have different needs, including work and family responsibilities.
In school, your teacher’s primary focus is teaching you how to learn a subject matter, often through group work, discussions, outlines and problems sets. This helps you build the skills needed to do well on assignments and tests, but it doesn’t always teach you real-world skills.
University is a big step up from school, you’re moving out of your parents house and taking on a lot more responsibilities. You’ll be learning in a completely different way and meeting lots of new people. It can be a big challenge to get used to. Luckily, with some preparation, you can make the transition from school to university as smooth as possible.
Universities offer a wide range of opportunities for research, internships and extracurricular activities. They can have more facilities than schools and often have more staff to support students. They can also be large, with a diverse student population and a huge choice of courses.
A university may be public or private. Public institutions are primarily funded by their state and may have larger campuses and more resources than private ones. They can also have more facilities and options available to their students, such as sports clubs, social groups and extra-curricular activities. These can make a university seem more appealing to some students than a college. Ultimately, it’s down to the individual, their preferences and their career goals. It’s worth considering what each institution has to offer before deciding where to study. To find the right college or university for you, visit the website of each, review testimonials from current students and talk to people who’ve been there before. You can also look at the programmatic offerings, campus life, costs, scholarships, outcomes and research spending.
2. Socialising
At school children spend 6-7 hours a day, 5 days a week in the classroom, only having an hour of that time to socialise with their peers. Students don’t always realise that they need to develop their social skills outside of the classroom, such as learning how to communicate effectively and knowing when to speak and when to listen, so when they go to university they can make friends with people who have similar interests and also discover what type of career they want without being held back by someone else telling them what to do.
At university you have much more control over how you learn, when and where you choose to attend lectures and so on. You are expected to take responsibility for your own studies and you don’t have teachers checking over your work or reminding you of what is due when. At university you can join societies, which are like after-school clubs but run by students and you can get involved with sports teams and social nights out with your society members, all of which will help you to build up your social life.
A large number of universities have research facilities and internships, whereas only some schools have these types of opportunities. You can get a better idea of what type of experience you will have at university by visiting campuses, sitting in on classes and speaking to current students about what to expect. This way you can make an informed decision based on what you think will be the most beneficial to your personal and professional growth. The most important thing is to be prepared for what you will face when you start university so that it doesn’t feel like a big shock.
3. Personal Development
Having a clear understanding of what personal development means is vital to achieving success in life, both academically and professionally. Personal development involves a variety of things, including goal setting, communication skills and self-reflection. Incorporating these into a student’s education will ensure they are prepared for the demands of the workforce and ready to meet any challenges that may arise.
Personal development also includes having a healthy lifestyle and learning to manage stress. These are essential skills that will carry over into the workplace and be useful for students throughout their entire career. In addition, it is important to learn how to make the most of a university campus. By getting involved in student clubs and activities, students will have the opportunity to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and develop their social circle.
In addition, universities often offer a variety of extracurricular opportunities that aren’t available at school. For example, many universities have sports teams and music groups that students can join. This will help students to make new friends, develop their leadership skills and gain valuable experience in their field of study.
Students will also have the chance to connect with professors, guest speakers and local leaders while at university. These connections can open doors for future job opportunities and lead to more meaningful relationships. It’s important for students to take advantage of this unique opportunity and not miss out on an amazing experience that could change their lives.
One of the biggest differences between school and university is that students are expected to take more responsibility for their own learning. While teachers are helpful, their primary focus is teaching students how to learn the subject matter. They provide group work, discussions, outlines and problem sets to give students the tools they need to do well on assignments, tests and exams. This approach does not always prepare students for the real world and some skills, such as time management, need to be learned in the real world.
4. Work Experience
At this age, it is important for students to learn practical skills. This is especially true for those that are considering pursuing a career in the workforce, where real-world experience is increasingly prized over formal education. This is why it’s vital that students are given opportunities to gain hands-on industry experience through internships and other work-based learning projects.
While most parents and adults still believe that a degree is the best way to secure a job, studies have shown that employers are beginning to look at credentials other than a university diploma when making hiring decisions. Additionally, a recent survey found that over 80% of high schoolers and college students believe that schools should offer more classes in essential life skills like communication, financial literacy, networking and cooking.
Many universities have established their reputation as leading educational institutions for research and a broad range of academic programs. University education is also often accompanied by graduate studies that allow students to pursue advanced fields of study or focus on specialised research. These degrees can be more prestigious and lead to higher salaries than undergraduate courses.
Depending on the field of study, students may have to complete one or more years of postgraduate studies in order to obtain a doctorate. This is typically the case for fields of study such as medicine, which take up to five years for a student to complete.
The transition to university can be a big change for many high schoolers as they move away from home and are introduced to new ways of learning and new responsibilities. The good news is that most students adapt quickly and make the most of their time at uni.
When choosing a university, it is important to consider the unique priorities of each individual. For example, some students may prefer a large public university with extensive research and a vibrant campus life while others may prefer a smaller private institution with more personalised support and mentoring. It is also important to consider costs, scholarships and outcomes before applying for any degree programs.
