Final answer:
In college, unlike high school, students have the autonomy to make choices regarding attendance without immediate disciplinary consequences, leading to a greater emphasis on self-responsibility. College students also have less of a support system and are expected to be more self-reliant in seeking help, managing their schedules, and engaging in critical thinking within their studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Students' responsibility for learning in college is markedly different from that in high school due to several factors that increase the emphasis on self-guidance. College students are expected to take a much more proactive role in their education. Unlike in high school, where attendance is closely monitored and non-attendance may result in punitive measures such as detention, college attendance is primarily the student's choice with no immediate disciplinary repercussions for missing classes. Nevertheless, missing college courses can have a significant impact on grades.
Furthermore, in college, the support system that high school students often have is not as readily available. There is typically less family oversight and fewer high-school peers around, which can contribute to feelings of isolation. The college environment often requires that a student initiates seeking help and support rather than it being automatically provided. Essentially, the onus falls much more squarely on the individual student's responsibility to manage their time effectively, attend classes, complete assignments, and study for exams.
The transition from the structured environment of high school to the autonomous one of college is a significant shift that impels students towards greater self-reliance. Moreover, college professors expect students to engage critically with subject matter, to form their own opinions and to actively participate in intellectual debates, rather than just absorb information. This, coupled with the need for increased self-directed effort and the recognition of the value in courses requiring more input, underlines the escalated level of student responsibility in the collegiate setting.