<p>I'm currently a college sophomore and have just finished my fall quarter. I found out that I failed 2 of my 3 classes. But that's not all. All throughout freshman year, I have failed one or two classes each quarter and my GPA has gone down the drain (1.5 now). Actually, the problem go way beyond that. I've always had problems concentrating in school. It's not like I hate school (I know education is important), but I have a hard time absorbing the material. I want to keep continuing going to school, but I'm afraid my parents will force me to drop out. I had promised them that I would do better this Fall quarter (I failed that). I don't want to disappoint them again. Any advice on how to avoid making the same mistakes again?</p>
<p>First off, talk to your advisors about the situation. Will this semester cause you to lose any scholarships/grants? Will you just be put on academic probation? Is there some kind of academic plan you can go on? </p>
<p>Secondly, identify why you failed your classes. Was it because you missed class? Had test anxiety? Didn’t understand the material? Weren’t interested in the material? Clashed with your profs? Had other stuff going on? </p>
<p>Once you know what your academic options are and why you’re in the situation that you’re in, then you can move forward. A lot of things are patterns that can be corrected and improved. If you learn how to better cope with testing, they’ll spread to help you in all testing situations; if you learn to better manage your time, that extends to almost every academic aspect of college. </p>
<p>I know this is probably really disheartening for you, and I’m sorry that you’re going through this. But get some answers, make a plan, and stick to it. You can do it! </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>You might also want to speak to your disability advisor if there are any issues that won’t be resolved just by good study skills. </p>
<p>I had a room mate who’d done well at hs, was at a good uni studying sciences but found out dyslexia had been preventing her from doing as well as she could have done. Little things like recording lectures and colored film over book pages made the world of difference.</p>
<p>If you’re otherwise engaged with school- no tiredness or wrestling with giving up suggests you don’t have depression which can really affect your concentration levels, self organisation, sleep, mood. However, if that does ring true go and see your campus health people. Quicker discovered, quicker treated more manageable things will be. </p>
<p>Talk to your parents, especially if they’re paying. Are you happy with the major you’ve chosen? Would you rather have a more practical education- learning a trade at community college? You could always complete a 4 year degree later on for self-satisfaction.</p>
<p>I’d add that it may not be the parents who ‘force you to drop out.’ The college may ask you to take a break. When GPA’s go that low, students are often put on watch or suspension at many schools. It takes a long time to get a GPA to recover. A four credit F needs a four credit A just to bring it to a 2.0, and the more ‘F’/‘D’ grades there are, the more ‘A’ grades one needs to pull up the GPA and it can be very, very, hard. Harvestmoon and highland_poppy have given you some good ideas re: what to do next. If your school asks you/forces you to take a break, then spend that time getting tested for possible LD issues, maybe working /volunteering in something that drives your passion and/or for pay, and ‘regrouping’ before continuing on with academic studies. Talking with the parents can be hard, for sure. If it is too hard, maybe a counselor/advisor at your school can help facilitate it. Good luck!</p>