Why is the transition from high school to college difficult for many freshmen?
There are lots of reasons why the transition is difficult, but the main issue is that the rules have changed. Through elementary and secondary schools, students have been monitored, prodded to do well, and provided with all sorts of safety nets. In college, however, theres more freedom both to do well and to mess up. Professors will not remind students to do their homework, give them bonus points, or offer them another chance to take a test. The idea that with freedom comes responsibility eludes many freshmen. When we consider all of the new responsibilities freshmen face: financial, social and personal responsibilities, in addition to academic responsibilities, it muddies the waters even further. In addition, students often enter college with an unclear focus of why they are there. Students have told us that they are in college to make mom and dad happy or that they have nothing better to do at this point in their lives. These are the students that often have the toughest time making
