Re: Making a good adjustment

Good comments all around.

I'd add this.

If that many people are dropping out that quickly, there's a good
chance that there's something "interesting", someplace, in the process
which places them there. I say "interesting" and not "wrong" because
the people who drop out are getting an opportunity to try something --
which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Most successful people have
failed at something. I'd be curious about what happens to the drop-
outs later. Do most find a more satisfying place to be in life?

As far as preparation goes, I have my doubts about whether things like
discipline and study skills can really be taught. I wonder if they are
things which can be improved if you already have the temperament -
which some do not.

There is also the societal pressure to get a college degree. By the
end of high school people have been in school for 13 years (K-12) plus
preschool, often without developing any sense of their path through
life. The emphasis on college may eliminate any discussion of
alternatives. Is it surprising that some don't really want to spend
another 4 years in school?








On May 14, 10:19 am, "Joe Finn" <J...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Kjetil Rossavik" <n...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:690kncF2ue20lU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx





Joe Finn wrote:
"pmfan57" <jwrag...@xxxxxxx> wrote
The main thing is some commitment to study.  Probably both your
roommates had the ability to pass, but did not apply themselves.
College is really not very hard substantively unless you are an
engineering (brutal) or physics major (maybe math).  It just requires
some discipline.

I agree. Motivation, commitment and application are among the keys to
success. The only problem is that I don't know how to teach them.

I had a kid come to me as a high school senior and he said he wanted to
go to college as a music major. This kid couldn't find C on a guitar or
any other instrument. I asked him, "Where were you six years ago?" but he
didn't catch my drift. I showed him some undergrad theory texts but he
still didn't get it. How do you tell somebody that they don't have a
snowball's chance in hell? I told his parents that he had none of the
prerequisites and that his future as a music student was doubtful.

He was accepted at a college that had a music department but dropped out
before Christmas. It doesn't make me feel any better to know that he's
thirty now and has yet to complete college or accomplish much of anything
else. This kid isn't exactly stupid either. Sometimes problems with
discipline and commitment will stop an otherwise intelligent kid dead in
his tracks.    ..............joe

....................... When you're going from school (as in pre-college)
to college/university you get a lot of freedom, as the responsibility for
your own learning is handed over to yourself. No longer will you have
teachers spoon-feeding you and making sure that you progress as expected..
As you say above, what you need now is the discipline to study. Given that
a lot of people don't have a lot of discipline from the start, you need to
practice and exercise your discipline. Give yourself achievable goals,
goals that you can meet and exceed and feel good about yourself - even if
this means goals like "I am going to go to all my classes, and also study
2 hrs a day 5 days a week". Once you can master goals like that, then you
can gradually ramp up, little by little, just like you do in the gym (or
with the metronome!)

KJ.

Well put. thank you!    ....joe

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Relevant Pages

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