Are the upperclassman/latter years in college really that hard?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Ever since we were kids we hear about how hard the next level is (usually from someone who is already at that level), but come on, I think we've all grown to know that it is usually exaggeration. Think back in 5th grade when everyone was telling you that the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade was terrible; think back in 8th grade when people were making it seem like high school was some super monster that no one could defeat; think back to your high school years when people were making it seem like college was essentially impossible to endure. Was it really that bad when you got to that level?</p>

<p>Of course, as we progress, it is almost a natural instinct to express to your peers who are in the same shoes you were not too long ago that something was really hard. The only reason we really do it is because we were in that situation not to long ago...it kind of gives us a sense of accomplishment. However, was the work we did truly "hard"?</p>

<p>We heard it year after year but honestly none of the grades previously mentioned were hard for me, not even my first year of college (and this is usually the year people say is the hardest overall).</p>

<p>Now I know I only had general education classes and whatnot, but with a few extra points on a couple of quizzes/tests, I could have received a 4.0 at a very renowned and prestigious school. That makes me ask how "hard" are the next 3/4 years? Like seriously.</p>

<p>Are they actually hard, or is it just that a whole lot of people are blowing it out of proportion because it is something they have completed and they want to feel accomplished/they are currently having trouble completing it?</p>

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<p>Depending on your high school background, the first year of college can be MUCH easier than the upper years but also the upper years are filled with classes you’re choosing to take instead of gen eds which usually make it easier. I found that the material escalated in difficulty but I got better along with it so I ended up doing just as much or less work over time.</p>

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<p>It’ll depend on the major and how you are as a student. I’ve found that many people who struggle at higher level classes may not have really understood the material from the lower levels and they are in a major that builds heavily on previous knowledge. They may be in a major that they don’t like or aren’t naturally gifted at. They may have to take high level classes that they don’t like or aren’t interested in.</p>

<p>It may not be particularly harder, but you might have more responsibilities during the later years. You might be working, have internships, be doing research, volunteering, etc. You might be applying for graduate school, studying for graduate exams, or job hunting. Upperclassmen might be spending less time focusing on schoolwork and more time adding extracurriculars or work experience (or just losing interest or steam in school altogether), so the later classes seem much harder than they might otherwise be.</p>

<p>The classes do get harder in that they may expect more sophisticated thinking or problem solving or analysis. They may expect you to have a solid knowledge of prerequisites, they may cover more detailed material, they may move at a faster pace, or they may cover more complicated topics that that would have been brushed over at a lower level. But theoretically, the students have been building these skills over the years and are prepared for the challenge.</p>

<p>So it’ll depend on the major, the student, the class, etc. I’ve always been a good student, I graduated in majors that I liked and was good at, I took classes that I was interested in, and I never thought the classes were too difficult or immensely more challenging. I always thought each level got easier as you moved up, but this may be for a variety of reasons–less busy work, I was getting better at figuring out how to study, etc.</p>

<p>You sound like you’ll be fine in the upper levels. Stop worrying about it, and add on other things, like internships, research, extracurriculars, etc.</p>

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<p>I think it truly does depend on the major, but also, it depends on you and your skills/interests. </p>

<p>I just finished my first year of college, and I’m a Writing and Rhetoric major. I received a 3.8 in my gen ed, comp 2 class in the fall yet a 4.0 in an upper-level writing class in the winter. Why? Because writing is my passion, and once you reach the classes that aren’t mere gen eds taught by overbooked adjuncts or overworked faculty, you can narrow in on your speciality. My passion drove me home, and I honestly didn’t see the 300-level class as too hard at all. </p>

<p>However, if I compare that to my other major of French, that wouldn’t be the case. Your skills build and solidify from class-to-class, so of course the 400-level French lit class where you’re analyzing foreign text is going to be harder than learning how to say “bonjour” in FRH 101.</p>

<p>Some fields require conditioned, trained discipline, like languages and math, and others are more open and skill-dependent, like writing and literature. </p>

<p>But also, I know what you mean about the whole “wait till you get to middle school/high school/college” thing. From my experience so far, it indeed isn’t all that different or harder than high school.</p>

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<p>Assuming you prepared yourself…no. If you didn’t, you are completely screwed.</p>

<p>Middle school was harder than high school. Community college was >= high school. University > CC. </p>

<p>I wasn’t good at math at all in HS. I was “naturally” better at physics. I take all math classes my first semester at CC and earn great grades without really trying. Eventually I get better grades in physics than math classes. Now I get good grades in both without too much effort, but I definitely put in more hours doing homework. The level of thinking is what takes the most time. It becomes less about plug and chug and more about showing the why and how. </p>

<p>So in my experience my Math 432 Partial Differential Equations class was much easier than my pre-calculus class at community college. I guess it’s just because I have a foundation now. Before I took Pre-Calculus I somehow passed Algebra II with a C in HS, completely forgot it, reviewed math for a week (very intensely), and tested into Calculus. So I took Pre-Calculus and because I was on a rocky to alright foundation it was probably harder. Calculus I thought was a joke, Calculus II was more interesting (especially physics parts) but not that much more difficult, Calculus III insanely easy. It’s pretty much expected you have a firm foundation in calculus by now to succeed in upper-level classes. Or you just fail miserably. I used quite a bit of calculus in my lower DE, upper DE, and PDE courses. Even in stats. Actually I use a lot of everything I learned in lower-division now if I think about it. I use Linear Algebra ALL THE TIME. I’ll be using PDE’s in my physics classes this upcoming fall quarter. Algebra is everywhere…</p>