Some words take on new meanings once you've transitioned from high school to university. While there are probably hundreds I could list, here are the top 14 words and what they mean to high school students versus university students.

1. Paper

High school students: Something you write on.
University students: A 10- to 15-page nightmare that gives you horrific flashbacks, even after you submit it.

2. Coffee

High school students: A beverage that will keep you warm on a cold day.
University students: Medicine, or what most of your blood is made up of.

3. Sweatpants

High school students: Something you wear at home.
University students: Something you wear at home, in class, on the bus, in the library...basically, anywhere that it is somewhat socially acceptable to wear them, you wear them.

4. Lecture

High school students: Something your parents give you when you do something wrong.
University students: That thing you have to drag yourself out of bed for at 8 a.m.

5. Tutorial

High school students: Something you watch on YouTube to learn how to do winged eyeliner or pass a level in a video game.
University students: An hour and a half class with a teaching assistant where you can ask questions you were too afraid to ask in lecture.

6. Money

High school students: Something you earn from your part-time job.
University students: That thing you never seem to have enough of.

7. Parents

High school students: Those people who you live with and whom you can’t wait to get away from.
University students: Those people you call to ask for advice on how to properly cook a potato and whose pep talks you actually appreciate. 

8. All-nighter

High school students: Staying up all night with your friends at a sleepover while watching cheesy movies and eating junk food.
University students: Staying up all night with your textbook cramming for a midterm while drinking copious amounts of coffee and eating junk food.

9. Dance

High school students: A social event planned and put on by your school.
University students: Something you do when you find out you passed your finals.

10. Canvas

High school students: A surface for artists to paint on.
University students: The online resource where you have basically everything for all your classes. Also, the thing you freak out over when your internet goes down at home and you can’t log in.

11. Guidance counsellor

High school students: A person who helps you apply to university.
University students: Your roommate. 

12. Housekeeping

High school students: Mom.
University students: Something you never seem to do.

13. Residence

High school students: A place you live.
University students: Where you meet some of the best people who will be your friends for life.

14. Degree

High school students: A brand of deodorant, also how you measure temperature. 
University students: That thing you put all of your time and effort into. Also, the thing that makes you celebrate at the end of your four years.

There you have it, 14 words that have alternate meanings when you begin post-secondary education—I hope this helps! If you can think of more, list them below in the comments.

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