How to hang in there when it feels like too much
Your years as a student can be some of the best of your life. They can also be the most stressful. Is it worth it? Yes. Now more than ever, you need a degree, and in many fields, an advanced one. Bachelor-degree earners make about $1,100 a week, while those who finished only some college make about $740 a week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- If you’re questioning whether staying in school is for you, what’s not working? Finances? Time? Grades? Personal issues? Then think about your academic and career goals. What would it take for you to make progress in this (or another) academic environment?
- “Move away from big resolutions. Instead, think about competing commitments that are getting in the way and how to resolve those conflicts,” says Dr. Luoluo Hong, vice president for student affairs & enrollment management, San Francisco State University.
- Know what academic, health, counseling, career, and social supports are available at your school and in your community. In a recent Student Health 101 survey, students’ most recurring regret was not taking advantage of resources sooner.
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1. School better have my money
When money may be a deal breaker, get guidance from the right sources (e.g., a financial aid advisor or the sites recommended below). “You don’t want to (by default) seek financial advice from people who aren’t financial experts just because they’re your [family] or friends,” says Zac Bissonnette, author of Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, or Mooching Off My Parents (Portfolio, 2010).
How to get a handle on your finances
- Even if you don’t think you’ll need loans, submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early on so you can get federal loans faster if you need them, says Rachel Fishman, senior education policy analyst at the New America Foundation.
- Find out whether your school has hardship policies, emergency grants, installment payment plans, and support with scholarships based on academic excellence or financial need, says Amy Baldwin, director of University College at the University of Central Arkansas. Search online for additional scholarship opportunities.
- Talk to an advisor or financial aid officer about finding a part-time job that can help you pay for books and other swag.
- Avoid shopping. Save as much as you can.
For in-depth savings tips and other strategies, try these sites recommended by author Zac Bissonnette:
2. Scandalous scholastics
Almost every student has academic setbacks. “Students who get knocked off their feet academically need to know that they are not alone and that there is help,” says Amy Baldwin, director of University College at the University of Central Arkansas.
How to get a grip on academics
- Show up for class, whether it’s online or on campus.
- Relieve the pressure: Ask your academic advisor how to get assistance with time management. Then speak to your professors about accommodations relating to assignment expectations, if needed.
- Get to know your faculty; take advantage of your professor’s office hours to discuss questions, ideas, and study strategies.
- Form a study group with people who have taken the course or are doing well in it.
- Search online for supplemental YouTube videos that cover the concepts.
- Talk with a university counselor about available help and how to make sure your schedule matches up with your level of experience.
- Even if you don’t expect to stay in school, keep your grades in shape. It’s way better for your future options to withdraw from a class than to fail it.
“We shouldn’t be discouraged after failing one exam. Instead, seek help from the professor and see how to do better next time.”
—Jie Z., third-year student, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
“Try to take other classes that may not be relevant to your major. I felt very [fortunate] to chat with some professors who are not in my department. They gave me a lot of motivation and other perspectives.”
—Eunji C., doctoral student, University of Wisconsin-Madison
3. Better together
“The key to staying in school for all students is making sure you take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to integrate yourself both academically and socially,” says Dr. Hong.
How to feel like you’re a part of it
- Live on or close to campus if you can.
- If you have to work, get a job close to school or on campus rather than off campus. “I had my financial issues solved and gained professional experience by working as a graduate assistant at my university,” says Dakota M., a second-year graduate student at Western Illinois University.
- Join a student club, start one, or look for groups in your community.
- If you feel as though you cannot get socially connected, talk with a counselor or advisor, or even a professor. They may be able to point you to resources that can help you adjust.
- Remember that many students experience “impostor syndrome”: the feeling that they don’t belong. “It often takes time to develop relationships and to find groups that you feel most comfortable in. This is normal,” says Amy Baldwin, author of The First-Generation College Experience (Prentice Hall, 2011).
4. Find your fight song
Hang in there if you can, maybe with the help of a short-term leave. Students who leave school and return later in life may have to navigate additional challenges, according to a 2014 study of 4.5 million “non-first-time” students.
How to approach a change of plan
- “If life is getting in the way of school, try to find a way to do at least two classes so you can build momentum toward graduating and stay eligible for federal financial aid,” says Fishman.
- You can take some classes in person and some online. “Online classes are likely cheaper,” says Fishman.
- Take the right classes: Always check which courses you need with an academic advisor or admissions officer.
- If you may transfer to another school, rigorously check that your credits will transfer too and accumulate.
- If you just cannot hack it right now, make sure you leave your future options open. Ask whether you can defer your enrollment (e.g., take a year’s leave) without academic penalty and without needing to reapply. Also find out whether you’re eligible for refunds on tuition and fees, and whether you’ll need to repay loans or scholarships.
Students’ stories: Should I stay or should I go?
“I had several support types: My family encouraged me because I was the first in the family to get a college degree; I had support from professors, one in particular who helped me to find an alternative way to achieve what I needed to; I also had support from the financial aid department who helped me find appropriate scholarships.”
—Deborah N., second-year graduate student, University of West Georgia
“I dropped out of school when I was 19 in order to travel the country with a theater group. I spent the next decade travelling the world as an actor, stuntman, musician, interpreter, and bodyguard. At 38, I returned and graduated with a 3.54 GPA from my BA program. I’m now enrolled in a graduate program. Not everyone is cut out for college right away. Some people need time to grow and live in the world before they figure out what they really want to pursue when they grow up. It took me nearly forty years to figure out what I wanted to do, and I know that my current path will provide a wonderful career. I wasn’t ready for school then. I’m ready now.”
—John C., first-year graduate student, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
“No matter what I was told, I knew that it came down to myself. It was up to me to continue college and it still is. So another tip is to not be afraid to reach a point where you are not sure if you can go on. Pushing through it all was what I needed, and I feel amazing. I love college now! Plus, I am ready for graduation because I am no longer totally afraid of the future.”
—Amy N., fourth-year student, Western Washington University
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