Beginning college is difficult for any student, and it is becoming more difficult for students to be successful with increased class loads and job responsibilities.
Sometimes, the mere thought of starting college is intimidating and stressful enough. For some students, it is the first time they have been away from home for an extended period of time, while other students struggle with completing all their schoolwork and attending all their classes.
It can be even more difficult for students to perform well in college if they do not know what to expect in the first year.
According to a report released by the University of Wyoming on the number of degrees awarded, during the 2010-2011 academic year, only 1,853 Bachelor’s degrees were awarded with approximately 13,751 students in attendance at the time. With so few degrees being received each year, new students may think the odds are against them.
However, according to Rita Burleson, an adviser for the Student Success Services on campus, students have the ability to be successful, but often times lack the time management and study skills to complete their degrees.
“However difficult they thought high school was, college is going to be much more difficult,” Burleson said.
The same goes for students who have transferred to universities from community colleges, as most community colleges are smaller and more “user-friendly” than most universities, Burleson said.
In the past, college often was seen as a place of exploration and a time for students to find themselves and contemplate their futures, but according to Burleson, college is now considered a career in itself.
“College is their career for the next four to five years, more than anything else,” Burleson said.
One of the most important skills for new students to practice is time management. Taking every opportunity they have to study is crucial, Burleson said.
It also is important for students to understand their study habits and capabilities.
“They have to listen to themselves and determine what kind of academic load they can carry and not think that the academic plan they’ve been given is the law,” Burleson said.
“There are now several opportunities to take summer and online classes to meet thirty credits per year if they have to, but they should not sacrifice quality for quantity.”
Aside from good grades being necessary for a high grade point average, Burleson says changes in financial aid make good grades even more crucial.
“If they don’t receive a C or above in their classes, there’s an even stronger chance that they could lose their financial aid,” she said.
Losing some or all of a student’s financial aid could mean a decrease in grade point average if that student has to take another job. It could even force that student to drop out of school entirely.
While studying is important in maintaining good grades, Burleson says that telling a student to simply study harder will get them nowhere.
“Telling someone to study harder is not good advice. If they study harder and continue practicing bad study habits, then it does them no good,” Burleson said. “They need to visit their professors and teaching assistants and take part in the supplemental instructions for their classes. They need to learn how to learn.”
