Why Does College Feel More Exhausting Than High School?

Have you ever felt that college is way more tiring than high school? If so, you are not alone. Many posts circulating on social media, especially on TikTok, complain about how exhausting college can be compared to school.

But have you ever wondered why people often feel more burned out during their college years?

There are several reasons behind this. According to Mas’oem University published on March 23, 2026, one of the main factors causing students to feel pressured is their inability to manage expectations regarding academic workload. Many students assume they have plenty of free time because their class schedules may look less packed, when in reality the real burden lies in studying and understanding material outside the classroom.

Meanwhile, according to Delia, as reported by Edunews, the influence of the prefrontal cortex before the age of 25 contributes significantly to the pressure often experienced by university students. She explained that the twenties are a phase of brain reorganization, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. It is therefore unsurprising that many people find college more exhausting. It is a period when self-management is still developing, while external demands require people at this age to adapt to independent living and prepare for the future.

Three out of three interview respondents said that college feels more demanding than school. One respondent, Ranum Najwa (20), a sixth-semester student at Universitas Negeri Semarang, said one reason behind this phenomenon is the environment and the greater number of things students have to think about.

“We are both studying (in school and in college), but in college there are more things to think about, such as what food I should buy, how much I need to spend on electricity, so basically you start thinking about life, not just studying,” she said on Friday (24/04/2025). “When I was in school, I felt carefree because it was purely about studying and meeting friends.” She added.

Similar responses were expressed by the other two respondents. They added that lecturers who are too flexible and give students too much freedom can sometimes create more pressure, as their standards can be unpredictable.

What the respondents experienced somewhat aligns with the theory from Mas’oem University as well as Delia’s view. The real burden behind prolonged burnout often comes from outside the classroom. On top of that, one’s twenties are a period when people are expected to adapt to independent living while preparing for the future.

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