As a former instructor at a small community college in Indiana, I am always astonished at the number of students who begin the semester with so much enthusiasm and ambition, yet suddenly lose that eagerness to succeed academically just within a few weeks into the semester. Over time, I have recognized five of the most common problems facing college students today and offer strategies that could help bring students back on course.
1) The Problem: Lack of motivation. According to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, one of the biggest obstacles that prevents students from obtaining a college degree is a lack of motivation. The most common mistake I have seen students make is skipping class. Sure, it’s tempting to skip that boring English class on a warm, sunny Tuesday afternoon in October, but skipping class is usually never without consequences. Students who make a habit of skipping class often miss out on lectures that provide them with crucial information for upcoming exams and assignments. Not only could this possibly result in an overall poor grade for the class, but you are cheating yourself out of knowledge that can help you in your prospective career.
The Solution: Consider the rewards of your education to help jumpstart your motivation. Did you know there is so much more to earning a college degree than just the financial benefits? In fact, according to College Board, a college education can lead to a healthier lifestyle, with reduced health care costs for individuals and society. Also, children with college-educated parents are more likely to be better prepared for school than other children. College is also an outlet for making lifelong connections with your professors and lasting friendships with fellow students.
2) The Problem: Lack of note-taking skills. Students might attend every class lecture, but this effort may be in vain if their note-taking skills are poor. I have observed several students sitting through entire lectures without writing anything down. Other students have complained they are unable to take notes because the professor speaks too quickly or issues too much information at once. Without knowing how to take sufficient notes during lectures, this can lead to disastrous results on assignments and exams.
The Solution: Practice. Effective note-taking will improve immensely through plenty of practice. One helpful exercise you can try is a mock lecture. Have a friend or study partner read aloud passages from your text book while you practice taking notes. Practice writing in short-hand rather than in complete sentences. If you try to write everything at once, this can cause you to fall behind and miss out on other important information in the lecture. Be sure to revise your notes neatly and in complete sentences following the lecture while the material is still fresh in your head.
3) The Problem: Failure to proofread. Many students write their essays as if they were typing a text message to a friend, resulting in a paper full of spelling errors and SMS abbreviations. Failure to proofread your essays can have a negative impact on the overall grade for the assignment.
The Solution: Avoid handing in the first draft of your essay. You must proofread your work for errors at least once, revising if necessary. If you think your essay looks OK, play it safe by asking a friend to proofread it for you. Sometimes an extra pair of eyes will spot a mistake you overlooked. Improving your writing skills isn’t only necessary for college essays, but for job résumés and cover letters as well.
4) The Problem: Failure to seek outside help. Students oftentimes feel too shy or proud when it comes to seeking additional help. Rather than seeking outside help for a course in which they are struggling, they settle for the failing grade or simply drop the class entirely. Either way, they will more than likely still have to take the class again.
The Solution: Schedule appointments with your professor or a tutor. There is nothing shameful in seeking outside help if you are having trouble understanding the material from class. In fact, getting tutored will not only help improve your study skills, but it offers you the one-on-one instruction you typically wouldn’t receive in a traditional classroom. By seeking additional help, you are showing your professor your dedication for learning the subject matter and your willingness to succeed in the class.
5) The Problem: Lack of confidence. I am surprised by the number of students who do not believe in their ability to do well in college. Rather than focusing on their abilities and what they are capable of achieving, they place more emphasis on what they feel they can’t achieve. I have observed that the “I can’t” attitude almost always reflects the grade of the individual student. If you tell yourself, “I’ve always been lousy at math, I am going to fail this course,” then chances are, you probably will.
The Solution: Change your thinking. I always tell my students, “You are what you think.” Not too many people ever achieve their goals by concentrating on what they can’t do. Instead of “I can’t” or “I’ll try,” tell yourself “I can” and “I will.” Maintaining a positive attitude in both college and life will produce more rewarding results.
