It is not uncommon for new college students to struggle with adjusting to college life. In fact, academic, financial, and personal difficulties cause 30% of college freshmen in the United States to drop out before sophomore year.
The high cost of tuition makes college inaccessible to most students without financial aid or student loans, and many students must balance their course load with a job. In addition, the rigor of college coursework can often overwhelm students. Physical and mental health issues can also lead to first-year college students dropping out.
Fortunately, however, students can take steps to set themselves up for success in their first year of college. This guide covers the 12 most common college freshman mistakes and provides tips on how to avoid making them so students can make the most of their first year of college. We also list resources for first-year college students.
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The 12 Most Common Freshman Mistakes
Many high school students believe that they can transition seamlessly into college without making any major changes to their habits or behavior. As a result, they do not adequately prepare for college life, and may find themselves making some of the following common academic, financial, and personal mistakes in college.
Academic Mistakes
Financial Mistakes
Personal Mistakes
Additional Resources for First-Year College Students
This app allows students to create and share electronic flashcards. Using spaced repetition, students can increase comprehension of difficult subjects while reducing overall studying time.
The Evernote app makes it easy for students to organize all of their notes, coursework, calendars, reminders, and other important information in one place.
As a reputable source for information about student financial aid, FinAid offers advice and tools for students looking for ways to finance their college education.
OmniFocus is a task-managing app that allows students to set priorities and stay on top of deadlines by organizing thoughts and ideas into to-do lists.
The website of the Federal Student Aid Office of the United States Department of Education can help students understand how financial aid works. The resource also helps learners navigate the student loan repayment process.
