There are many non-academic and non-financial factors which contribute to the drop-out after the first semester/year phenomena, such as feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety and stress. Students need better preparation for adjusting to campus life, managing the new-found independence and autonomy rather than just plunging in unprepared. Coaching for students, whether provided by the college, sponsored by the parents or transition workshops held at high schools for graduating seniors are all ways to minimize the challenges of this major life transition.
Gina M. Wilson, M.S.of DE3:56PM April 01, 2013
College students need more supports. Often, they have not learned the foundations of reading, writing and arithmetic. High schools push kids through, sometimes due to parental pressure, and they graduate without the foundations for success. Once in college with no one managing them, they often fail. Fortunately, there are great academic support services at colleges and outside such as tutors westside (http://www.tutorswestside.com) or kumon (www.kumon.com) to help.
Jeff K.of NY11:30AM September 09, 2011
Respectfully, I'm surprised to see errors in grammar and spelling from posters, especially individuals claiming to be faculty. PLEASE, spell check before posting on a public website.
Critical Thinkerof NY3:10AM June 22, 2011
“Students aren't ready
I'm in my first semester teaching at a Community College and I'm stunned at the lack of interest, discipline and desire.
High School has NOT prepared them for college. In my classes, students are barely literate, have no knowledge or interest iin anything outside of their own recreational plans.
They think nothing of sleeping in class, missing assignments or chatting with one another. Most lack basic manners and think nothing of burping, yawning and streching as if the classroom was a substitute for their bathroom at home.
While I don't let them get away with it, I came to teach not raise them.“
This why not all people should go to college. Yet the powers that be keep pushing this agenda. To me, high school is an end in itself, hence the diploma. You do not get a diploma when graduate Elementary or Jr High/Middle school because you are expected to on. In High School you are not expected to go on. You can but college is for the best students.
I do think that making it cheaper would help retention but not lowering standards.
E148of TX11:42AM July 05, 2010
Best Colleges
Dropouts Loom Large for Schools
Community colleges are a bright spot—and focal point—in this economy. But despite high enrollment, they fight to keep students
“Higher education officials cheered this summer when President Barack Obama pledged to boost the U.S. college graduation rate to first in the world—after years of stagnation—and announced a $12 billion plan to produce 5 million more community college grads by 2020. Currently, community colleges enroll more than 6 million students in the United States.”
Yeah right. Pledges are meaningless. In 1989, former President Bush (the first) and the governor’s of the various states planned several things, among them were to increase high school graduation rates and make the US number 1 in both Mathematics and Science, by the year 2000. The graduation rate is about the same and not only are we not number 1 in either, mathematics and science, we have dropped to below 20th in both out of 30 countries measured, even 10 years later. Great, 5 million more Associate degrees for retail sales positions. This is just another Obama promise that won’t be kept. A college degree is one thing a job is another.
“"The colleges want us to think everyone graduates, but in fact a huge number don't, and many leave with significant loan debts and job skills totally inadequate in the 21st century."”
I would disagree with this one. College is not necessary especially 4-6-8 year degrees. Most of these jobs have gone overseas. There will be some yes, but not as much as we are told or believe. We may need two-year degrees and trade schools more than anything else. Again, retail sales are the main jobs and they do not really even require a high school diploma.
“Changing tradition. Enrollment is booming in community colleges as laid-off, middle-age professionals who are changing careers rub elbows with first-generation students in their late teens. Fully 15 percent of Colorado community college students have bachelor's degrees, and enrollment is up 32 percent, according to Nancy McCallin, president of the 13-college system that serves more than 107,000 students annually.”
What do you mean changing. I went to school in the 1980-2000, in my 30s and early 40s. It was common back then to see people over 30 and even some 50s, getting their first bachelor’s degree.
At the undergraduate level you will take mostly courses that are NOT in you r major or even minor. For a Bachelor’s degree they want you well rounded. It is when you go for your Master’s that you concentrate on more ‘interesting’ stuff and even more so in the PhD programs. The undergraduate want people who are interested in learning in general, or at least can learn subjects that really do not interest them, so they can be well rounded.
“The truly responsible student succeeds because he or she knows that without a degree it is impossible to support a family in the 21sy century and the great contributions to society that they can make require that become educated.” I would disagree with this one. Even a degree is NO guarantee of employment and being able to support your family. There are plenty of couples out there with college degrees and both have to work.
E148of TX11:41AM July 05, 2010
The problem with some people going to a four year college right out of high school is freedom. The freedom to do what you want is at times the death of studying especially when a person follows others with their bad decisions. There are quite a few people who can not handle being out on their own right out of high school. Colleges expect them to handle adulthood immediately without parents involvement. The college overlooks drinking, sleeping in classes, missing classes, texting on phones, copying each others work and excessive absences. Colleges, in my opinion, do not care whether a person succeeds or not. They just want your money!
D. Ellisof AL9:41AM June 14, 2010
I am basically one class from finishing my AA degree at a community college and this is what I have noticed during my college experience.
1. A major problem is that society makes it seem as if you are a lesser person if you do not attend college. It seems that obtaining a college degree is more of a way to establish youself on the social hierarchy than to actually better yourself by becoming more intelligent.
2. A lot of the student are just going to school because that is what is expected of them. They don't really want to learn anything. They basically just want the piece of paper so they can get a decent job after graduation. Most don't really care about the details of 19th century economics. The choices seem to be: college, military, or be a loser.
3. The next problem is the lack of freedom in the course material. You are basically bein forced to learn certain things instead of having the freedom to teach yourself the things that interest you in that subject. You aren't really given that much of a free choice when it comes to class selection. Out o allthe classes I have taken, I think I found 1 out of 5 to be truly interesting. The rest were just padding that was required.
4. A four month class is too short of time period to cover all of the material in the course text book. Often times you are expected to read 40 pages a night for every class. This is impossible if you area full time student or ar working full time.
5. I literally learn more from an afternoon of watching the science channel than I do from taking classes. I constantly read, and I found that during the semester I had to stop reading the stuff I liked in order to make time for the stuff I needed to read for class that I wasn't all that interested in just so I culd pass and get my degree. Isn't there something wrong with this picture? The fact that I like reading, but hate the class material? Isn't the point of college to learn? What is the point of making college attendance and expectation if you can't really even study what you want. I don't see how forcing students to take classes they hate is beneficial to society. I think more freedom should be allowed in these schools.
6. The public schools I attended were horrble. I leared more after high school by reading books that I was interested in than the required reading in those classes.
It seems that education in this country is what is approved by a board and not what you actually want to learn. Which is why I think college is overrated ad do not plan on going on to a four year school after I obtain my AA degree. I honestly didn't get much from the experience.
Joshof NC11:34PM June 11, 2010
Students fail to graduate because they are not engaged. They have not made the connection between what they must know and what they are studying. The gaps in reading, writing and math can not be over looked, they are essential and they can only be learned at college. The truly humble student succeeds because they are willing to fill in the gaps and devote the time and energy to do so. The truly responsible student succeeds because he or she knows that without a degree it is impossible to support a family in the 21sy century and the great contributions to society that they can make require that become educated.
Dr Walli Carranzaof CO8:54PM January 22, 2010
After reading the comments, there is a lot of truth in what is being said. I say this because I was involved in community colleges as an administrator, teacher and grant funded director. The biggest reason for the lack of graduation success is that students coming from the K-12 secondary schools lack the basic reading and math skills. When a student has to take 1 remedial course, the chances of graduation are 50% and when taking 2 courses the chance of graduation is 0%. One of the top reasons that students are accepted is to pay the big salaries to top administrators (presidents, deans etc)and provide exceptional retirement packages. Get real-it's all about the money.
In Connecticut, over 60% of full time students are taking one or more remedial courses. The average graduation rate is 13% among the 12 CCs. The national average is 23%. K-12 needs to do their job for future generations and CCs need to say you don't have the skills based on the entrance exam testing. Go back and sue your school board for not giving you the basic education after 12 years to begin the college journey. If enough students did that, it would finally wake up the K-12 system in the US.
They would have to make the necessary changes to curriculum and discipline so our children can learn, prosper and advance. It may sound extreme but nothing else has worked. The top tier schools(Harvard, Yale, Princeton et al.) in the US are competitive internationally but that is a very small percentile of the number of US postsecondary institutions. It is a sad commentary on our society that so many students suffer the consequences of a school system setting them up for failure. Yes, there are some good K-12 schools but they are too few. Throwing money at the situation is not going to change it. The child, the parent and the teacher must be committed to making it work with the school system creating the positive environment for it to be successful and thrive.
ghcasperof CT11:02AM December 12, 2009
I'm in my first semester teaching at a Community College and I'm stunned at the lack of interest, discipline and desire.
High School has NOT prepared them for college. In my classes, students are barely literate, have no knowledge or interest iin anything outside of their own recreational plans.
They think nothing of sleeping in class, missing assignments or chatting with one another. Most lack basic manners and think nothing of burping, yawning and streching as if the classroom was a substitute for their bathroom at home.
While I don't let them get away with it, I came to teach not raise them.
Reader Comments
Back to article
Gina M. Wilson, M.S. of DE 3:56PM April 01, 2013
Jeff K. of NY 11:30AM September 09, 2011
Critical Thinker of NY 3:10AM June 22, 2011
E148 of TX 11:42AM July 05, 2010
E148 of TX 11:41AM July 05, 2010
D. Ellis of AL 9:41AM June 14, 2010
Josh of NC 11:34PM June 11, 2010
Dr Walli Carranza of CO 8:54PM January 22, 2010
ghcasper of CT 11:02AM December 12, 2009
TMP of TN 7:25PM October 09, 2009