Student Services Center

Five main causes of academic difficulty:

Motivational difficulties
Motivational difficulties can include difficulty adapting to and feeling a sense of belonging in a competitive academic environment.
Adjustment to college life
Balancing study with the new freedoms and responsibilities of adult living can be a difficult challenge. For some, it will take practice to develop the personal discipline required to stay focused at an institution with so many opportunities.
Study skills
Students arrive at college with many levels of academic preparation. For some, the transition is seamless, for others, a real struggle. Weaknesses in academic preparation and an inability to organize study time can contribute to unsatisfactory academic performance.
Directions/Goals
Some students report having difficulty directing toward a course of study and or finding a subject matter that "fits" with their interests and abilities.
Personal Issues
At times and perhaps unexpectedly, personal issues can affect academic performance. For example, issues involving health, personal relationships, finances and family responsibilities may overwhelm a student's ability to perform well in classes.

General Resources

How to Study.org is a great way to access a variety of studying and learning related pages from a variety of colleges and other educational organizations.
“The Mentor ” an On-line journal on academic advising, includes a search engine

Personal Goals, Motivation