10 Signs You’re in Trouble at College

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@THANKSFORNOTHING
Most professors will make exceptions for students who are trying, but have life get in the way (on the short term). The point of the article is to ask students to be honest with themselves and differentiate between having temporary problems that can be worked around or larger problems that take a semester or a year to deal with. If problems are that large, they should be focused and not going to school while dealing with those things isn't doing the student any favors.

sympatheicandrealisticprof of TX 1:00PM April 05, 2012

Why not try giving some constructive advice rather than telling people that they're doing everything wrong? These people are probably the kind of professors that make you feel like gouging out your eyes before you'd go to them with a personal problem, and they'd probably revel in the fact that they were feared and confuse it with respect, but honestly there's more to life than college, and life's problems do not stop and start because you have an exam. The authors seem to lack the kind of humility that is necessary in a good teacher, not to mention a human being...

Thanksfornothing... of NY 10:42PM November 15, 2011

I am at this point what can I do to make college work for me.

Jason of MI 12:02AM November 03, 2009

Going to school has its ups and downs. I believe that this article explains that there is a lot of things that may happen while going to school or just in school.

Robert McDaniel of NC 12:10AM October 16, 2009

Eight on the list lumps prescription drug abuse, alcohol, and illegal drugs under the term "medication." The opening sentence is particularly unfortunate. While the gist of the paragraph seems aimed at drug abuse, and not the legitimate use of medications for psychological conditions, the paragraph fails to clearly separate the former from the latter. Some editing might be in order. Otherwise, good list.

Jasca of CA 8:42PM October 14, 2009

I teach general/freshman chemistry at a university, and more than half of my students are not ready for college. The average for my classes is between D- and D. Maybe for some professors, the average is between B to B+, but I learned that C meant average skill. Sadly, most of my students don't have average skill because they lack the retention of pre-requisite math ability or have poor studying habits.

H W Eng of FL 11:12PM October 05, 2009

As a recent Georgia Tech Alumni, rule (10) does not apply... their administrative and student support services are terribly ineffective... I predict increasing suicide rates, more so than already unless Tech starts practicing what they preach.

the z of GA 7:01PM September 12, 2009

Many college students today, are not ready for the responsibility of college. Are the high schools preparing these people for the big universities? The routine use of substance, the inability to excercise critcal thinking, basic immaturity, all possible reasons why some students should not go to university. Going to college to soon is a waste of time and money. Maybe some should go as they grow older (21) or older, depends on when they actually grow up!

Grace De Marco of CT 3:56PM September 11, 2009

I was among the first generation in my family to go to college.
Tips 1, 3, and 4 were what I wished I knew when I tranferred from a community college to a university. The courses were much harder. I carried a 16-credit course load, which was the same as I carried in community college. Two courses were over my head. I ended with a straight-C average.

Juanita Chavez Moshier of TX 11:17AM September 09, 2009

You should definitely try to rewrite this article, so that it sounds supportive and not extremely critical. As another reader noted, the article might lead some students to think that if they show any if the signs mentioned, they should leave college. Using the phrase "You are in big trouble" is totally out of place. And I am kind of sure you won't get a whole lot of positive comments. I too am at a top university in the US (and when I say top, I mean top 5), and there are moments when I am struggling, and I know that most of the people there are in the same situation at some point during the school year. Should I feel that I am in big trouble and that I will not succeed through my college life? Hellooo have you guys actually BEEN in college? And are you qualified to write such an article? Because I am sure that no therapist or person offering professional help for college students would tackle the problem in the way you did in this article.

Jo of CA 7:41AM September 09, 2009