#SeptemberStudies- The difference between college and sixth form

After you've finished your GCSE's you usually go on to do one of two things; sixth form to study A Levels or college to study A Levels or a BTEC diploma. It's important that after GCSE's you decide on the right option for you. I have attended both sixth form and college, so thought I'd help you guys out. Here are some pro's and con's to college and sixth form

COLLEGE

Pro's

• You don't usually have to go into college for five days a week, 7 hours a day. Of course, this varies from college to college and depends what course you're studying but my own college course was two days a week from 9-5 on the Monday and 10-6 on the Tuesday (I think! I can't really remember now...) and then I had the rest of the week off! 
• It's a more relaxed environment. You call teachers by their first name, there's no uniform, you can use your phone in class, there's a lot of independent study. It's definitely more relaxed than school. 
• You don't always have exams. Most college courses (most) are 100% coursework, which means there's no revision stress. 
• You can make new friends. A lot of people from college probably won't have been at school with you so it's a great opportunity to expand your social circles. 
• There's a wider variety of courses. Schools teach set lessons, whereas when you're at college you can choose from a more creative range of subjects to study. 
• You can choose just one thing to study. Rather than taking 5 A Levels like at school, you specialise in one area, a bit more like university. 

Con's 

• It can be hard to focus. Without a proper, 'strict' structure to your day, it can be hard to remain focused at college. 
• It can be hard to fit in. If you're used to the timetable at school and working in a structured school environment, it can be hard to fit into the laid back routine that college provides you with. 
• It can be harder to get good grades. If your course is 100% coursework there is always the temptation to leave it all until the last minute knowing that as long as you get it done, it doesn't matter when you do it. However at school, with exams, you know you have to revise for a long period of time before hand. 

SIXTH FORM

Pro's 

• You're continuing to study your favourite subjects. Usually you'll pick your favourite GCSE's to study at A Level or you'll pick a very similar subject that wasn't available to you at GCSE but that you'd like to study. This transition gives you a head start, whereas if you start a new course at college you have to start from the very beginning. 
• You're with your friends. You've grown up with these people, formed a relationship with these people and study with these people. It is great if you have got into a routine of helping each other out with assignments or homework and can continue to do this throughout sixth form.
• Free periods. You get a lot of free time that should be used for studying but is often used to just hangout with friends. This is a great advantage of sixth form. 
• Your teachers know you. You've built a relationship with your teachers, they know how you study, how to help you learn in the way that's best for you and know how to help you in the best way possible. A college tutor may not know you as well and you might struggle to connect as well in less space of time. 
• There's structure to your day/education. You have a set timetable which can make it easier for you to focus on what you have to do and when it has to be done by. 
• You can be punished. At school you can get detentions for doing things wrong, missing deadlines and being late. This is not implemented at college and so people can be more laid back with a "don't care" attitude. 

Con's

• You've been there for years. Yes you can move to a different sixth form but you've still been at school for years. This is the chance to go to college and try something new. 
• Teachers can be pushy. Teachers want the best results possible as this reflects better on them. However, this can provide more pressure for students which isn't great. 
• You are with the same people. If you don't like your classmates or if you're just looking to meet some new people, being stuck in an environment you're unhappy in isn't healthy or great. 

Please remember that these pro's and con's are written from my own personal experience of sixth form and college! Every sixth form and college is different so ideas of mine may vary to your own. Let me know if you're going to/went to college or sixth form and what influenced your choice in the comments below! 

Love from,

Florence Grace