Five Common Reasons Why College Students Drop Out

Louise Baker
Zen College Life

College is the best time of many people’s lives, but for some the dream turns into a nightmare. There are a variety of reasons why this might occur, but here are five of the most common:

No Support System

1. Some colleges offer students a meager support system. As a result, students feel alone, homesick and confused, and they believe they have nowhere to turn. Many drop out; an unfortunate result considering many could succeed if they had professor and student mentors. These students could be retained if colleges instituted more aggressive “welcome programs” and advised students of all the resources on campus. This support should continue throughout his or her college career and a concerned professor, faculty mentor, or guidance counselor should be always accessible.

Finances

2. College is very expensive and many students simply cannot afford it. Financial aid doesn’t stretch as far as it used to, even when students are willing to take out 5-figure loans. Many try to take on part- or full-time jobs, but they eventually burn out, sacrificing school in the process. These students would indeed stay if tuition were lower or financial aid were more plentiful.

Unprepared for College Work

3. Unfortunately, many students aren’t equipped by their high schools to do college level work. As a result, they drop out after a semester or two of profound struggles and academic probation. This is a hard issue for colleges to deal with, as they can only manage what they are given. Colleges shouldn’t be expected to teach students what they should have learned in high school, but they can acknowledge students’ troubles by offering more remedial classes, extra help programs and other tools that can help students catch up and succeed. In addition, universities can make sure that they hold firm to their admissions standards in order to keep chronically underperforming students out of the system.

Personal and Family Troubles

4. Sometimes personal or family problems prevent students from finishing. A student can get ill, or a parent could lose a job or pass away, forcing the student to quit his or her degree program. Unfortunately, it is difficult for a school to prevent these life events. The best colleges can do is provide students with the support they need. They can also offer to keep a space open for them at the school for a certain period of time in the hope that the student will return to finish his or her degree.

Poor Fit

5. Sometimes a school is a poor fit for a student. Despite their best efforts, students come to campus and realize that they actually don’t feel at home. Whether it’s due to a wrong major, homesickness, or cultural issues, sometimes the choice just simply wasn’t the right one. To maximize retention, colleges and universities can make sure students are familiar with the campus’s student life and academics before they enroll.

Louise Baker blogs about getting an online degree at Zen College Life. Her most recent post looked at the top 10 nursing schools.