Introduction
Universities and colleges across the country welcomed a new group of freshmen to their institutions this year. I hope it is not business as usual. Currently, there is an alarming dropout rate among America’s freshmen in college. If the trend continues, it will place America at a disadvantage economically in competing with other nations. In fact, America’s success relies on its strong education system. Given this scenario, the nation must develop the best and the brightest students with innovation and creativity in order to spur steady economic prosperity. With heightened competition from other nations and a shortage of workers for the future, many educators are sounding the alarm for pressing threat. According to Collegescholarships.org, one in four freshmen students annually dropout after their first year in college. Some studies would suggest it is much higher (probably as high as 50% in some institutions). Wall Street Journal columnist Charles Murray argues that most students lack the intellectual capacity to be successful: “If you want to do well, you should have an IQ of 115 or higher. Put another way, it makes sense for only about 15% of the population….” This article explores how adults, including parents and educators can assist freshmen in this difficult life transition.
The Real Facts
College freshmen face a difficult challenge with transitioning into college and adulthood. There are a variety of reasons researchers say that these students fail. They include lack of intellect, motivation, maturity, support, and commitment, to name a few. In fact, researchers Jay Greene and Greg Foster have evaluated public high school graduation and college readiness in the United States. In their findings, they discovered that only 70% of all high school students graduate but only 32% are actually ready to enter a four-year college. Sadly, many don’t want to hear that being grown-up means being responsible. Dr. Christopher Cunningham, a Regent University professor, has been teaching freshman college communication courses for over five years. He sees the problems most freshmen have: “I don’t think that many of our students are prepared for the rigors of college life. I believe that if we want to see real change in drop-out among college freshmen, we need to first look at how students are prepared in high school…I have discovered that many of the students who do best are the ones who take college courses while in high school.
Bellevue University professor Paul Hoffman continues to watch this revolving door of failure. Since beginning his academic career as an adjunct in 2000, Hoffman has taught a variety of courses at Iowa Western Community College and Metropolitan Community College. Hoffman sees the problem with the privacy laws that prevent the institution from alerting parents of potential problems. Hoffman explains, “FERPA [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act]will not allow advisers to consult with parents without the child’s permission. However, parents should insist their child gives permission for them to discuss progress with advisers.” Many times those incoming freshmen have a good self-image and their chances of success, according to the Freshmen Attitudes: 2008 National Research Study. This study surveyed 92,894 first year students nationwide at 302 colleges and universities. Some of the findings include: (a) nearly half of entering college freshmen have a lack of confidence in their math and science skills, (b) first-generation freshmen had similarly low levels of academic confidence as non-first-generation students, but they were more concerned about financial situation, and (c) ninety-five percent of freshmen were highly motivated to complete a degree. Unfortunately, many freshmen feel when they turn 17 years old, they don’t need to listen to anyone. One thing is clear there may be more problems than solutions.
Possible Solutions
The reality is our students are dropping out of school. If this is the case, how can adults assist them to be better decision makers? Hoffman suggests that academic institutions can do more to assist freshmen. He offers the following suggestions: (a) help students develop study/work/social time management skills, (b) challenge students in critical thinking by thinking outside the box, (c) focus the first semester on general education courses only, (d) encourage campus visits and provide guided tours, and (e) allow classroom orientation by allowing potential students to sit in on classes. Dr. Cunningham argues for a more direct role of professors in the intervention of freshmen: “College professors need to understand that the freshmen who sit before them are for the most part the students who were in high school the previous year. Therefore they need to be more cheerleaders and encouragers….I have found that students respond to the gentle cheerleading approach better.” Clearly, today’s of resources to help them to be successful. Therefore, it is up to them to youth have an abundance be personally accountable and utilize the assistance available from parents, professors, fellow students, and the academic institution.
Conclusion
To many freshmen on campus for the first time, campus life appears like a reality show. Reality shows such as Cribs depict the life of lavish living on Easy Street. However, the producers never discuss the price of fame. Are kids pursuing their own dreams or the pipe dream of pop culture? Throughout their schooling, most young people were shielded from the sacrifices that success demands. There is a price for success. It is paved with hard work and determination. Consequently, life is no reality show. Parents and the university support system can assist students with this difficult transition. Dr. Cunningham adds, “This is a combination of good encouragement by parents and good preparation by teachers – that is one of the best ways to curb the high rate of freshmen failure rate and drop-out.” For the upcoming freshmen the future can be brighter. Life is really a marathon of decisions. By making better decisions, freshmen can avoid the dropout fever that plagues so many of them. Let’s pray that it is not too late.
