Due to a lot of issues including depression, lack of motivation, and a poor work ethic, I’m failing my first semester as a Freshman in college. I started out pretty well the first few weeks, but when I started pledging, I ceased caring about academics and everything went down the tubes. When I got balled, it sparked up my underlying depression and left me even worse off. I wouldn’t go to class, wouldn’t do assignments, etc. It doesn’t help that a girl who contributed to me getting balled is in one of my classes, so I avoid that one like the plague. I’m here in the Honors College on mostly academic scholarships, and really worried I’m going to lose it all. Even if I don’t fail all 4 of my courses this semester, my GPA is going to be poor. I need advice on establishing a stronger work ethic and getting back on track.
Going to college is a huge adjustment for everyone. Everyone handles it differently. Many handle it like you’ve described. So the first thing to consider is that you are not alone. You have plenty of company. And the histories of some of the most successful people include a 1st semester just like yours. And I’m not talking about those savant types who invented amazing things and dropped out of school. I’m talking about people who continued on in school, improved their grades, graduated and went on to successful careers. So, do not despair!
Next take the steps you need to take to start on a better trajectory. The first step is to access the help that is available to you–all of it. Go to an advisor to discuss working together to improve your situation-your academics. If you think you are depressed (low energy, low motivation, procrastination does not mean you necessary feel in the dumps cognitively, you can have somatic symptoms of depression that sabotage your academics without feeling sad, for example) make an appointment with the health center (either medical or mental health) and go to that appointment. When there, lay it on the line, don’t minimize your angst to give a good appearance-tell the truth so that the practitioner can give you helpful advice.
Don’t try to simply pull yourself up from your bootstraps or just vow to do better. That will probably not help because if you are depressed, motivation is impacted.
Next, write this semester off as what is called a “front end load”. Figure that you had a steep learning curve and the price you paid was some bad grades. But use that as momentum to improve by doing what I suggest. Everyone pays something at some point-this was yours.
While it’s not the best to start off with a low GPA, you may not be in as much of a dilemma as you think. What is “failing” to you? All Fs, or are there some Cs and Ds mixed in there too?
First of all, go talk to student health services. They’ll get you in touch with someone who can help you begin to work on your depression. Furthermore, if you get diagnosed, you may have more of an opportunity to make it up.
Start working hard, now. Go to every class, regardless of if you feel like it or not. You can’t afford to fail. You very well may not be able to keep your scholarship, but if you talk to your professors maybe they’ll help you work something out where you can earn some credit back.
Studying and doing work between classes, if you have a gap, is invaluable. You can get things done and still have time to have fun during the nights. I typically go to the library or a coffee shop on or around campus to bang a few things out in between my two classes.
Do your reading; it does help reinforce what you’re being taught. In some cases, I’ve found that it makes more sense than what the teachers are saying.
ALWAYS start work early. It’s better to have the essay done a week early than be up late the night before. Work first, play later.
Good luck. Get some help from your school’s health services and your adviser. I hope it all works out.
- Find a counselor / psychiatrist. Your university might have a free center where you can receive help. If you are clinically depressed, it will be extremely hard to develop a stronger work ethic. And even if you aren't, being able to talk things through with someone may help you move past the frat incident and cope with that girl being in your class.
- If you have an academic or major advisor, I would talk to him or her. They may be able to connect you with tutoring services to help you catch up. They can probably also tell you exactly what will happen in the worst-case scenario; maybe there are measures you can take or a plan you can implement if you do lose your scholarships.
- You have to go to class again. Even if you don't understand what's happening because you're so far behind, you can take notes that you *will* understand once you're caught up.
- Use your TAs, professors, and fellow students to help you get through the assignments if you don't fully understand the concepts that you need for them.
- Do you have friends, or are there friendly people around who would welcome you into their social circle? They can be friends from back home too. Being able to exchange your concerns, share your struggles, encourage each other, vent, etc. can be cathartic and takes a lot of the emotional burden off you, sometimes even more than interacting with a therapist.
Your goal is to do as well as you can up to the end of the semester. Depending on your classes, a good chunk of your grade could depend on the last midterm or two, and then your finals. It’s not too late to turn things around, but you have to use sheer resolve to get back on track (which is why step 1 is so important, because you might need some external help to restore your motivation).
At the end of the day, learning how to deal with bad situations by reaching out to people in these ways is a good life lesson to have, even if your grades don’t end up as you want. This is the first time (I’m assuming) that you’ve been through something like this; forgive yourself, because we all make mistakes in the processes of adjusting to college and growing up.
Start by going to every single class. Stop skipping. Next make an appointment with the counseling center ASAP and have yourself evaluated for depression and start treatment. Then hightail it to your academic support services and start working on those study and organizational skills and put the recommendations to work right away. Keep doing these three things over and over until you get yourself on track academically.
Once you are back on track, then worry about your social life and other activities.
Agree with all the above…
and see if your college has a student success center that can help you with study skills.
Also talk to your adviser to see if you can withdraw from one of the classes (and still stay full time) so you can put your effort into the rest of your classes.
THE WORST THING TO DO IS NOTHING AND FAIL YOUR CLASSES.
I would hightail it to academic support services now … in parallel with seeking help with depression (and see if you can use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which is more about real changes in how you perceive the world and how you react to obstacles rather than numbing the pain of depression).
One semester will likely not cost you scholarship or continued attendance at this school. If you need extensive help to do well next semester, discuss taking a semester off to improve your mental health and maybe to work on both study skills and also maybe content issues (if your HS was not rigorous, you may be encountering material that is harder than you expected and your peers may be better prepared).
Withdrawal may be an option … if so, consider it … and yes, your depression may be a medical reason it will be granted. I think all schools should be a bit generous with this option, since first semester is such a wildly new experience in living away from home and in a different academic environment.
And, ask for help from your parents if you have a good relationship. Even a sympathetic ear on the phone is helpful, but they may also be able to play a more active role (which is appropriate here).
@EzioDovahkiin You know what your problems are, which is part of the solution.
As others said, attend classes, do not skip class (unless you’re really sick, “feeling a bit tired” does not count). Limit the amount of Skyrim. Ask other classmates or TAs for help.