Did you know that almost 50% of college students never make it to graduation? This is a more than double the dropout rate from the’60′s, although more students than ever are enrolling and getting accepted every year. Why the massive rate of attrition? Escalating tuition costs in an inflated economy, along with a high unemployment rate must take a lion’s share of the blame, but there are other reasons. For example:
1. Social pressure. Living away from home for the first time can be a problem. Some students thrive in such a challenge, but for others, the desire to go back to the familiar is sometimes too hard to resist. As for those who thrive in a new environment, one that’s free from parental scrutiny, sometimes they are a bit too sociable to be able to do well in class. In both cases, dropout is the result.
2. Keep on top of your studies. Earning grade grades in high school is entirely different from doing well in college. As you might have suspected, the work load is intense at the college level so don’t let yourself fall behind. If, after a while, you find that there’s another major that interests you more than the one you originally declared, you might need to transfer to another school. Transferring doesn’t have to equal dropping out, so make the change and stay the course in the process.
3. Find a support system right away. Don’t wait until you feel overwhelmed to look for a guidance counselor or even a dorm aid. Even though the help you need might not be as easy to find as your high school guidance counselor was, there is help of all kinds in place on campuses. There are mentor programs and internships, as well, to help you advance along the way.
4. If you need to work, try to do so during the summers and on weekends only. If you must work during the academic year, do not do so for more than 20 hours a week. Many students end up dropping out simply because they need to work and can’t keep up with their studies.
Your future is as vast as your ability to dream. And, as you’ve just read, your ability to prepare for rough patches will probably factor in from time to time as well. Dropping out isn’t always the answer when things get tough, so try to cope as best you can and stay on the course that you have set for yourself.
Mike Mower dropped out of college twice before winning an academic scholarship and earning an online degree in psychology.