Unlike high school, college classes can be at any time between approximately 7:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Your freedom to decide when your classes will start depends on whether you are in a program or in general studies. You will have a few time slots to choose from if you are in general studies; however, if you are in a specific program, such as journalism, you will be required to attend a series of classes that are scheduled to occur at a specific time.
College classes are a lot more serious than high school. You will need to take more notes and pay more attention to your instructor. Many students, or their parents, are paying top dollars for their education, so they are much more serious than in high school about achieving high grades. This means students listen attentively and ensure they write down any pertinent information the instructor says. Many students bring laptops with them because they can take down notes faster on a keyboard than if they write by hand.
You will be required to complete a lot of homework. Generally, homework gets much more intense during the end of a semester when you must review an entire textbook, or more, to complete the final exam. In addition, an essay is often assigned near the end of the year. You will likely also complete a mid-term exam. It is important in college to keep up with your reading so you aren't cramming information at the end of the semester.
Many college classes will require you to make a presentation to the group. You will often work in groups for these assignments, and you will likely be graded individually. For example, if you are studying economics, you might make a presentation about globalization. Most instructors grade on the presentation portion of the assignment as well as a written portion. You will need to work with members of your group after class as well as at school.