by Cody Hodge

Created on: April 30, 2009

The transition from high school to college can be a tough one. The expectations are higher, and for a freshman, it can be hard to adjust to the new standards. In the first semester or two, it can be expected that you might get some lower grades than you are used to, even in classes that you are good at. I remember my first semester in college, and how much of a disaster it turned out to be compared to my senior year of high school.

The thing is to take it all in stride. The first year is always the toughest, especially the first semester when your not really ready for college, and the differences between it and high school. The essays are a lot more detailed, the papers are longer, and the professors are expecting some real academic work. On the flip side though, the professors expect you to struggle a little bit more, and are always willing to help you out.

The key is to take advantage of that help, and the feedback that they give you. You will generally have more scheduled meetings with your professors during your first semester, and the professors will guide you through the process of doing better in school. They will show you what is expected of you, and help you improve your grades throughout the year. I remember I got a C in English 101, but my professor told me I was going to be a writer someday.

You have to keep working hard no matter what your grades are. I kept working hard on my writing skills, and went from a C in English 101 to a B in English 102 the next semester. I ended up with a 3.0 GPA in my English classes overall, and so I think I did OK, and learned a lot from my failures in the first semester. I took my professors advice, and worked hard on the things that they suggested I improve upon.

If you find that you are struggling in your classes after your first semester, maybe you should change your major, or perhaps change schools. Some professors just aren't for some students, and maybe your environment is what is holding you back. Always take the fact that you got a low grade as a chance to reflect on why your grade was so low. Was it lack of effort, or perhaps you need to be studying something else instead?

College can be a tough place to be, and it can be a major struggle when you start out. The key is to keep working through the issues that you may have, and to ask for help. Your professors want to help you through the bad times, and want to make sure that you are doing the best you can. Relax, keep working, and eventually you will have success.

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