Why is My Excellent Student Failing?
Before coming to college, your student may have experienced smooth sailing in high school. Maybe they had a reputation as an excellent student, won awards or were consistently named to the honor roll. You were so confident that you student would be successful in college. But something happened along the way: a bad grade on a test, a failed class or struggle to understand and keep up with course material. Why do some students who excelled in high school seem to have difficulties in college?
Statistics show that approximately one-third of first-year students do not return for their sophomore year, mainly because some have failed classes and felt defeated. It is important not to assume that just because your student excelled in high school that they won’t have any challenges in college. Whether your student is in their first year or senior year, challenges and hardship can creep up at any point in their college journey. Let’s break down some reasons why this occurs and how you can support your student when times get tough.
- College Expectations are Different. College academics require a lot more critical thinking and independent learning. In college, the academic accountability shifts from external to internal forms as students are expected to become responsible for their own learning and academic career. The workload outside of the classroom significantly increases from high school and students are expected to manage their own time. They are expected to attend class, plan study time and complete assignments independently. In addition to becoming more independent in managing their time, students are also juggling being on their own for the first time, extracurricular and social activities, financial pressures, stress and relationships.
- Lack of Resilience. Chances are if your student has always done well, they haven’t experienced many academic challenges are hardship. They haven’t had to exercise their “resilience muscle.” If things always came easily to them before, they may not have needed to develop good study habits or time management skills. When classes become difficult, these students may believe that struggling in a college course means they just aren’t good at that subject, rather than looking for a different approach or seeking help from campus resources. They may feel embarrassed to ask for help, especially if they’ve never needed that support before.
When your student starts to struggle…
As students experience hardships in their college careers, they may feel like their world is falling apart. They likely feel embarrassed and may even feel like they are letting you down or disappointing you. Thurs, they may try to hide that they are struggling. Your student may rely on those around them to notice their difficulties and reach out to offer help. As students experience these anxieties, they could adopt self-sabotaging mindsets, such as imposter syndrome, or self-destructive behaviors, such as not completing assignments or attending class, because they feel they are past the point of help.
How you can support your student...
If you think your student might be experiencing some of these challenges, there are ways that you can help and support your student:
- Keep the line of communication open. The most important thing you can do is keep an open line of communication with your student. Let them know they can come to you no matter what and that you are here to support and encourage them without judgement or disappointment. This is key to helping your student feel like they can be open and honest with you.
- Be a calming presence. Reassure your student to take a breath. Let them know it is possible to bounce back, and that you can support them in finding a way forward.
- Help them find resources. You can help your student find specific resources on campus that could help them get back on track, such as the Center for Counseling & Mental Health Wellness, Tutoring or their academic advisor.
- Encourage goals and action plans. Help your students think about their goals and what steps they need to take to achieve them. Ask your student what role they would like for you to take in helping them achieve these goals.
Overall, it’s important that your student understands that failure isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, failure can sometimes be the best learning opportunity because when we learn to fail, we learn resilience and how to bounce back from failure. These hardships are simply building blocks in your student’s journey to adulthood, and having these supportive conversations could be just what your student needs to reorient their path and become stronger than ever.
INTERVIEW WITH ROB OWENS › BUYING YOUR FIRST CAR ›
ENCOURAGING YOUR STUDENT TO STAY MOTIVATED ›