what to do if you have trouble learning from a college course

First and most importantly — talk to the professor. Encourage your student not to just grab the professor after class, but to make an appointment during office hours and have a serious talk. Help your student think about planning ahead of time and thinking carefully about how to explain the problem as they see it.

Full Answer

What should you do if you fail a college course?

As soon as you realize you're in the danger zone, it's important to take action immediately. Your opportunities to bring up your grade, or just drop the class altogether, dwindle as the semester goes on. Meet your emergency plan: here are 10 Steps to Take If You're Failing A College Course. 9. Assess the situation.

Is your college student having trouble?

This is every college parent’s nightmare. There may be many reasons that your student is having difficulty. They may be academic, social, physical, emotional. The college may be able to help, or you may feel that the school is part of the problem. Where do you turn? Somehow, you’ve found your way to College Parent Central, and we hope we can help.

Can We Solve Your student’s problems?

We probably can’t solve your student’s problems, but we’d like to give you some things to think about that may help during this time as you and your student explore options and make decisions.

What should I do if my student is in crisis?

Once you understand what the situation is, you and your student will need to try to understand what caused the moment of crisis. If your student can’t get to the root causes, he is likely to find himself back in this situation again. This may not be an easy process, but once the causes are discovered, the repair process can begin.

What do you do if a college class is too hard?

If you feel like your course is too hard, try these five steps to help you find a solution.Figure out what's making your course difficult. ... Use your school's academic resources. ... Find the study style that works best for you. ... Readjust your schedule. ... Have faith in yourself.

What to do after failing classes in college?

Even if you do fail, you can retake the class and ask for help. Although it will negatively impact your GPA and could affect your financial obligations, you can bounce back. Start by asking for more help and studying differently or harder if you retake the course. Most importantly, don't give up.

Is it OK to fail a college class?

A failing grade will likely hurt your GPA (unless you took the course pass/fail), which could jeopardize your financial aid. The failure will end up on your college transcripts and could hurt your chances of getting into graduate school or graduating when you originally planned to.

Is it normal to not learn anything in college?

Some people will graduate with a 4.0 and then feel as though they have not really learned anything. This is actually quite common because the person memorized as opposed to learned. Learning a topic is much different from memorizing it.

Is failing a class in college the end of the world?

Failing a class is not the end of the world, or even of your college experience. It doesn't mean you're stupid, or that you chose the wrong major and won't be able to cut it in the real world. It simply means that you have something to improve on and a goal to work toward in your education.

Can you recover from an F in college?

If you fail, it's usually smart to retake the class. Most colleges will allow you to retake a class one time and replace your new grade with the failed one. This looks better on transcripts and for financial aid purposes.

Is dropping a class better than failing?

Croskey notes that dropping a class is better than withdrawing, but withdrawing is better than failing. “A failing grade will lower the student's GPA, which may prevent a student from participating in a particular major that has a GPA requirement,” Croskey says.

What's the lowest passing grade in college?

While most colleges consider a D a passing grade for pass/fail courses, some require a C. And pass/fail classes may not count toward major or general education requirements.

Why do some students struggle in college?

1. Inadequate Concept of the Meaning of Work. Some students don't know what it means to put in a strong academic effort and sustain it for the length of a semester. They may have been successful in high school with little effort, good looks, and native intelligence.

Does anyone actually learn anything in college?

A new study suggests, “not hardly,” if the goal of earning a four-year college degree is to actually learn something. The report based on the book Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses found that after two years of college, 45% of students learned little to nothing.

How do you really learn in college?

First, Focus on Preparation.Plan Ahead. Create a study plan at the beginning of the semester based on your course syllabus. ... Take Good Notes. Studying starts in the classroom. ... Find a Routine. ... Study with Friends. ... Ask for Help! ... Teach Someone! ... Switch Up Your Study Spots. ... Eliminate Distractions.More items...•

How can I study and remember?

Simple memory tips and tricksTry to understand the information first. Information that is organized and makes sense to you is easier to memorize. ... Link it. ... Sleep on it. ... Self-test. ... Use distributed practice. ... Write it out. ... Create meaningful groups. ... Use mnemonics.More items...

What to do when you are in trouble for failing a class?

When you realize you are in trouble because you are failing a class, it is important to take the necessary steps immediately so you can still try and salvage the situation. There may be opportunities for you to pull up your grades and pass your course.

What to do if you fail a class?

Here are some steps you can take if you are failing a class in college. 1. First things first: Assess the situation. The very first thing you should do when you realize you are in the danger zone before having a mental breakdown is to assess the situation.

What to do if your grades are pulled up?

As mentioned, if your grades can still be pulled up by earning some credits, ask your professors for recommendations. If you are not sure if you will pass the rest of the course, your professor can also assess your performance and grade you by the end of the semester.

What happens if you fail more than one course?

If you are failing more than one course, it is an indication that you are in big trouble. If you have to maintain a specific GPA to meet the requirements of your financial aid or scholarship grant, failing can either cause you financial suspension or you won’t be allowed to renew.

It Was Time to Face the Music

Knowing how many college students fail a class and their reasons gave me hope. I demolished a pint of Ben & Jerry’s finest. Then I made a list of consequences of that D. I needed to know what happens if I fail a class. For me the list included:

With a Little Elbow Grease, I Turned the Situation Around

If you are wondering what to do when you blow it in college, let me share my experience.

Why is it difficult to get a degree?

1. You’re experiencing low motivation. Low motivation is one of the biggest problems you may have to tackle during your education. Without sufficient internal drive to achieve, getting through the sheer volume of work needed to gain your qualifications (whether GCSEs, A-levels or a degree) can feel impossible.

What to do when you can't get work done at home?

If you find it impossible to get work done at home because of the number of distractions, try working somewhere else. The library would be a good place, as you can shut your phone away in your locker, and peace and quiet is guaranteed. 3. You have difficulty concentrating.

What are the problems with motivation?

Low motivation is one of the biggest problems you may have to tackle during your education. Without sufficient internal drive to achieve, getting through the sheer volume of work needed to gain your qualifications (whether GCSEs, A-levels or a degree) can feel impossible. Key to understanding low motivation is to figure out the reasons behind it; they’re not necessarily the same reasons for everyone. Low motivation may be experienced either for certain subjects, or across the board; some of the common causes of it include: 1 You are tired and stressed, with too much to do 2 There are other, more interesting things to do 3 You find the subject boring, or don’t enjoy it for some other reason 4 You don’t like your teacher for a certain subject 5 You have other things happening in your life, meaning studying doesn’t feel important right now 6 You’re not in the best of health, or not sleeping 7 You’re worrying about failure

Why is my college student having trouble?

This is every college parent’s nightmare. There may be many reasons that your student is having difficulty. They may be academic, social, physical, emotional. The college may be able to help, or you may feel that the school is part of the problem.

How to help students with crisis?

What do you need help with? 1 How do you and your student face the immediate crisis? Defining and understanding the nature of the problem will help. 2 What are some of the underlying causes that led to this situation? 3 How can you and your student work together to find a solution? 4 How can you decide on a course of action?

Why do college students feel helpless?

Your student may be struggling for any number of reasons – from lack of preparedness, lack of motivation, lack of perseverance, too much partying, mental or emotional difficulties, or just plain homesickness. Whatever the reason, you’re at a loss ...

What is a crisis in school?

The Crisis. When something goes wrong, you and your student are both in a moment of crisis. It may help to know that you are not alone. It may also help to think about one definition of crisis as a moment when a decision needs to be made. Something isn’t working, and you and your student will need to face some decisions.

What is the most common type of learning disability?

There are different types of dyslexia but the most common type is phonological dyslexia which affects the way people break words down into their component parts.

Why do people use computers in school?

It’s often recommended that individuals who struggle with specific learning and motor skills difficulties be allowed to use a computer to complete school work. One reason for this is typing takes care of many of the presentation aspects of writing, from letter formation to spacing and neatness.

How do you know if you have dyslexia?

Some common signs of dyslexia include problems reading out loud, inconsistent spelling – they may be able to spell a word one day and not the next - losing one’s place on a page, a poor grasp of phonics, letter reversals, halted writing due to trouble with spelling, and a vocabulary that’s more limited in scope.

What is learning difference?

On the other hand, a learning difference takes the opposite approach in underscoring that a person simply learns in a different way from others.

Can dysgraphia make writing difficult?

Children who struggle with dysgraphia have a hard time with writing and may produce text that is illegible. Writing can be labored, taking a long time to complete and causing frustration and stress. The spatial orientation and planning aspects of writing can be particularly challenging for people with dysgraphia.

Can ADD go unnoticed?

In fact, a learner with ADD may appear to be paying attention and thus the learning difficulty can go unnoticed until it results in incomplete assignments and poor performance on tests. In certain cases a child may even be told they are not trying hard enough.

Can dysgraphia be avoided?

Children with dysgraphia are often eager to avoid handwriting, particularly in front of their peers. They may feel embarrassed when writing on the board, produce less text than is necessary for written assignments, and can generally perform poorly on assessments that require written answers.

Why do college students feel helpless?

Your student may be struggling for any number of reasons – from lack of preparedness, lack of motivation, lack of perseverance, too much partying, mental or emotional difficulties, or just plain homesickness. Whatever the reason, you’re at a loss ...

What is a crisis in school?

The Crisis. When something goes wrong, you and your student are both in crisis. It may help to know that you are not alone. It may also help to remember that the definition of crisis is a moment when a decision needs to be made. Something isn’t working, and you and your student will need to face some decisions.

What happens if a student fails a class?

Generally speaking, if a student fails a class, parents don’t take it as a sign of overall problems that need addressed. It’s usually when the student is assigned a negative status at their college that they start to take it seriously. The common statuses, with each having their own level of severity, are:

Why do kids fail in college?

Experts know that there can be many possible reasons for a child is failing in college, ranging from a poor choice of college or major to skills issues, hidden medical problems, and others. Ask your child about the problems they’re experiencing, then talk with a professional who can assess exactly what the issues are. Your son or daughter might be having common problems, or they may be experiencing ones that you were not aware of. College failure can repeat itself, so focus on identifying the problems to permanently solve them, which is the right strategy for their overall success.

What is the difference between a small college and a large college?

Smaller colleges tend to be more open to parents, while larger colleges may only give you the bureaucratic run-around. Gather more information about your son or daughter’s academic status, like probation or suspension, and clarify any stipulations or requirements the school sets for such students.

How long does it take to get dismissed from a college?

Dismissal is permanent, but this can be relative for some colleges since they will reconsider them at some later point. However, this may be five to ten years from the date of dismissal, which effectively locks them out of that college during traditional college age. 2. Protect Your Child’s GPA.

Why can't parents do college?

Many parents reach a point where they just can’t do it themselves, either due to relationship dynamics, or because they lack the expertise. With college costs rising, and graduation times increasing, and the benefits of graduation still being clear it’s important to do what is needed for students to earn their degree.

Can parents help if their child is not successful in college?

Find Professional Help When Needed. It can be very difficult for parents when their child is not successful in college. What I’ve heard most from parents is that self-intervention typically doesn’t work, and they said their child tuned them out, didn’t respond, or that it even caused friction in their relationship.

Can a student function well in college?

There is a faulty belief that any student can function well at any college, and in human terms this is simply not true. No person can function equally well in all environments, and this is especially true when it comes to academics.

What Do You Need Help with?

• There are lots of topics to explore as you work at supporting your college student, but here are two categories of articles that might be a good jumping off place. Your Student in Difficulty Supporting Your College Student We hope you’ll also spend time browsing the site to find the articles that are most useful to you now — and in the months and y...

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