College Kid to Drop Out due to Bad Grades

My son just started college and is doing poorly in two of his classes. He now is considering quitting because he feels that college is just not for him. I feel that he should not give up so quickly. What can I do to encourage him to stay? -- Worried Mom
Answer: Students do get discouraged when they are doing poorly at any grade in school. It is not unusual for freshmen to be overwhelmed by the greater academic challenges of college classes. Fortunately, there are several avenues of help available to your son if he will only use them.
Advise your son to go immediately to the school's academic skills center to see what help is available. Most of these centers will be able to offer him solid advice on how to handle his difficult classes as well as give classes in study skills.
Plus, his professors or their assistants should be willing to go over tests and classwork with him and explain what he needs to do to get better grades. If a class has sessions to discuss lectures, he must attend them. Another option is to talk to other students in his classes to see if any of them want to get together for study sessions, especially before tests.
A recent study by Stanford University has shown that college student coaching improves retention and graduation rates. A tutor could be exactly what your son needs to succeed in school.