Comments on: Reasons Why Young People Fail in College

By: MissM

MissM — Fri, 20 May 2011 06:10:28 +0000

I just recently flunked out of a university after my first year there. I went to a community college where I had a 3.0 gpa, but when I got to the university level things seemed… boring. At community college my professors seemed interested in the subject, taught us hands on, and even organized class field trips to see different work places that coincided with our major. I can honestly say that all 8 classes I took at the university level were not like this at all. Every professor I had would stand in front of the class for 3 hours and read aloud the powerpoint presentation they had put together, and that was it. Having a professor read aloud is no way to learn and gain knowledgable experience. Because of this, I got bored, unmotivated, and just stopped going to class, which resulted in me flunking out. If I have to suffer through “story time” classroom settings and memorization tests for 3 years to get a better job, then screw it, I think I’d rather work a mediocre job for the rest of my life.

On a side note… any suggestions on how to tell your parents you flunked out of college? My dad was SO happy when I got accepted to the school he graduated from, he even bought school hats, shirts, and car stickers. He tells me all the time that the most important thing in life is getting a Bachelor’s degree. I already have an Associates degree and plan on going back to community college until I decide if I want to reapply to a university again, but I feel this isn’t good enough for my parents and they’ll kill me when they find out I flunked out. What’s a good way to break it to them?

By: rachel

rachel — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:57:54 +0000

Trust me, college simply isn’t the answer for everyone. I am by no means a slacker, nor am i stupid or a partier, and I have a difficult time with the work. It’s painful almost sitting and trying to write a paper for me. I’m supposed to be writing one at this very moment about how college isn’t for everyone.

By: MD

MD — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:30:21 +0000

Thanks for stopping by “frustrated.” You’ve shared some very practical tips with us here. Unfortunately, not everyone will be succeed in the academic world.

By: frustrated

frustrated — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:39:18 +0000

Just to clarify my post… I was agreeing with doctor s comment “I think failing out of college is actually a feat that is very difficult to do. I truly believe that you really have to TRY and put forth effort to fail out of college. People that fail out literally do nothing. They do not go to class, do hw, or miss exams. Most times people fail courses is b/c they miss exams and fail to make them up.” I’m sick of that.

For those of you who truly try and cannot make the A, don’t give up!

I know what worked for me doesn’t work for everyone. I did not have focus on graduating when I enrolled in college after high school. I got a job, got a family and later re-entered college. So for several years I worked really hard to make it to the next step. I finished my BS while working plus being a wife and mother. Then about five years later finished my MS (as a working wife and mother). This has made a major difference in our life. My point is to encourage you to study hard, work hard because so many think they should get the ‘good life’ without putting forth the effort.

My step-son failed one course Spring semester and failed every course this (Fall) semester so right now I’m speaking from hurt and anger. I am SO worried about his future. He would have been Junior at a great university and just blew it.

By: frustrated

frustrated — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:10:43 +0000

I totally agree! I’m tired of hearing ‘the instructor is hard to understand (foreign accent)’ or ‘I started out good but then I couldn’t keep up’ or ‘my dorm-mate won’t let me sleep’. These are poor excuses. Excuses! Students can flunk on courses the choose in the major they choose. I’m tired of hearing lies and excuses. I want to say to them “Get off your butt and start doing something!” It’s scholarship money, parents money, grants, etc you are wasting. There are a LOT of students who work hard and need that money you are wasting.

By: John

John — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:20:00 +0000

I agree with you, Universities have the student by the balls. Unfortunately, the more prestigious jobs are becoming more and more dependent on higher education. Universities know you need them, and that you’re willing to pay, and if you’re not careful, they can take even more money from you. Textbooks are a great example. For years you could get away with used ones, but now the professors change the book so often that you have to buy new, and when the semester is over you get almost nothing for selling it back, add to that, most of the courses have a required online component for the home work, and you’re in deep shit financially. Remember Universities are Businesses. In college you’re a number not a person.

By: rizzom

rizzom — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:36:01 +0000

I disagree with this. The good students, in any major, look at the more difficult courses, which are incidentally almost always mathematics or natural science courses, as a challenge and an opportunity to learn.
If someone looks at this opportunity as boring or difficult; it makes them lesser qualified as a student.
In the end, life is about problem solving, and not about GPA. Would I want to hire a doctor or a lawyer who flunked calculus because it was ‘boring’ and ‘difficult’ over someone who relished the challenge and the opportunity to learn about the world? Probably not. That is reality. I want a doctor or a lawyer who can solve problems. And in my experience, one of the best ways to test problem solving abilities, in a general sense, is in those types of courses.
It’s not a test of whether or not you ‘like’ algebra or biology, but a test of whether or not you can meet the challenge of learning a mentally rigorous topic.
You must learn!

By: Philip

Philip — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:01:22 +0000

I would have to put a contradiction on the work issue, not that it is wrong just there is more. I know that when I had a job while in college some of my time was better defined and I knew that I had to schedule everything and the responsibility level was increased. This meant that I would go to class better because you can not skip work like you can classes and therefore you were already up and ready to go on a Monday or other people would ask why you are there etc. Just some other perspective.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:05:36 +0000

Having to work is one of the biggest reasons many fail in college! I’m a living example of that. Not that I’m failing in college or anything, but it sure makes it tough. I was recently married and am now working full time while going to college almost full-time.

Try to adjust your schedule to where if you are taking a full 12 credits that you’re only working 20 hours a week.

Honestly, it’s not even that though… the biggest reason is that our time isn’t spent wisely and we waste a lot of time rather than studying!

By: Caleb

Caleb — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:17:36 +0000

Yeah, I’ve been there and done that. I dropped out probably for a couple of those reasons too. My main reason was a lack of focus. I’m a very good student (I dropped out with a 3.8 GPA, on academic scholarship might I add), but I lacked any focus on where I was going with my life, and how I would utilize a college degree. This led to my life being pulled in any and every direction away from school. Now I’m a returning student, with all of those lessons under my belt.