Two Stages There are many similarities and differences that an individual experiences with the transition into high school and with the transition into college. Both of these experiences can be considered something of a rite of passage that many individuals go through in the course of their education and their social development. Each step could be generalized by describing an individual who is entering a new place with a new opportunity to be exposed to various source of knowledge. However, at the same time these periods in one's life are quiet unique. This analysis will highlight some of the similarities and differences that can be found in these similar but different transitory periods in one's life.

The High School Experience

The high school experience is fraught with new opportunities and exposures to many new thoughts and people for the first time. At some point in the high school experience students generally learn that many of the things that they have been previously taught were not as accurate as they previously imagined. For example, many students will remember the story of the first Thanksgiving and think of it as a pleasant experience in which the pilgrims and Indians peacefully coexisted. However, when the study of history begins to become more complex and comprehensive, this story can also be told in a different light.

Despite the acquisition of a new plane of knowledge, there are many similarities that high school shares...

For example, high schools are generally structured from early in the morning to roughly three to five in the evening with a few breaks in between in which students are allowed to have free time but only on the campus. Although there are many differences in the campus and the learning experiences, the basic scheduling of classes and the day are similar to what one finds in early forms of education.
Students are also required to take a basic curriculum however are also given a range of electives that they can choose from. Although some students already have an idea of what they may want to do for their career, a vast majority does not or, is at least unsure of which career path suits them. Most of the classes are taught to provide the general background from which more specialized skills can be learned later in job training, a vocational school, or a college or university. However, before more advanced skills can be learned, it is necessary to have the basic science and math background in which more advanced subjects build upon.

The college experience can be different in a wide variety of ways. One of the biggest differences is that it is generally in this transition that students become fully separated with their families. While some students stay home and attend local schools, many students venture out and are on their own for the first times in their lives. This can be a delicate time for an individual as they must…