Wendy,
Setting and achieving a goal is important task. Many people do allow life to get in the way. The most we can do is encourage students to achieve their dreams. We must continue to keep the fire burning that was lit the day they enrolled.
Cindy Bryant
I think students let life things get in their way of accomplishing their goal. Things are always going to come up and if someone really wants to get to their goal, they won't let anything get in the way no matter what it is.
I believe that many students allow things in their personal lives to overwhelm them. They feel it is easier to drop out of school rather than stick it out to help themselves in the long run.
Jeffrey,
Determining why students leave school is like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. Sometimes you need to speak with every instructor and student advisor to best determine the reason behind their departure.
Cindy Bryant
Students withdraw for a number of reasons. I believe the quality of Education is essential for having a great school. So, it follows the primary reason students leave is a lack of satisfaction in this area. Certainly, unexpected life issues, financial problems, and other circumstances are reasons a student withdraws. In some cases we'll never really know why they've chosen to leave school. Our best chance to retain our students is to listen to them.
After working on this training, i feel that maybe they weren't given those high expectations
Mala,
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason that all students leave. Tracking must be very detailed and analyzed regularly. While students have a variety of reasons for leaving a word of encouragement may be all that they need to stay in school.
Cindy Bryant
There might be a variety of reasons why students leave, but the reality is that there might be variables that are out of our control. Their work, their family life, death of a loved one, they have to take care of their parents or child. AS a school, we must develop the confidence of knowing that we have done our part to support them to best of our abilities.
Our students will often leave because something has changed at home. For example, a family illness has occured and is preventing them from coming to school.
I've seen a lot of students become discouraged: the program's level of difficulty overwhelmed them, or "life happened." But I've also seen these same students turned around by a small amount of encouragement. I think it's very important to interact 1-on-1 with students as often and personally as possible. You never know when a statement, like, "I heard you did a great job in clinic this week," can give a student's self-confidence a much-needed boost.
Unfortunately it always seems to be life getting in the way. Many of our students have deaths in the family, divorce, job loss, sick children, they themselves get sick. We work really hard to make sure that students get the support that they need in order to be successful in school, but occasionally we do lose students for academic reasons.
I think that many people do not have a strong understanding of the commitment it takes to go to class everyday and be responsible for homework and their own learning. I tell my prospective students. "college is hard" This is also a perfect time to assure students that we have resources in place like student ambassadors and turors. I ask prospective students to tell me what they think their biggest challenge is going to be. Even with all of that.... Life gets in the way. It is a great reminder that as admissions reps we reach into our last few classes and simply ask how they are doing. We are so attentive when trying to get them enrolled and through the process. Once they are a number and sitting in class after the add/drop we have moved on to the next start. That is the nature of the Biz but attrition speaks volumes as well. Maybe we need to spend more time in the interview asking them what will trip them up instead of"selling" our school.
For an administrator, it's hard not to take a student's withdrawal personally and empathize with their situation that catalyzed their withdrawal.
My institution has a majority of international students. By far, the number one reason a student may withdraw would be visa-related.
For one reason or another, a student's visa standing is no longer good. For example, a student gets a DUI, goes home for the holiday and cannot return to the states because of the felony resulting from the DUI.
Another reason may be a change in their visa status, going from an F-1 to receiving their green card or work authorization.
Every now and then, a personal matter will prevent the student from continuing their education such as a loss of a parent or a child. When a student does not have the mental focus to succeed in the course, it is met with poor grades, low attendance and the eventual withdrawal.
For the above reasons, it is very important that the student understand the consequences of all of their actions, especially following the letter of the law. One stupid mistake can take away the student's opportunity to finish their education.
I think students really don't expect our program to be as difficult as it is. Even though they speak to our instructors and our Admissions reps go through all the classes they will be taking and the requirements in their initial appointment. I don't think they really grasp that they have to work to complete our program.
Our School is quite unique, we teach watchmaking as a career. the program is two years, full time and quite intense. in our 8 years of existence, we have had jsut 2 people leave the school. ine by choice, adn one by request.
the person that withdrew realized ager the first practical assesment that this career choice was not for them.
watchmaking is a very intricate occupation that not only needs skill, but passion as well. success is dependent on the persons ability to come to work each day and bring their very best, because if they do not then it will be a wasted day at their workbench
When we do our student orientations and it is my turn to speak I always begin with this...
"Your past does not have to define your future" and then I proceed to try and help them understand that all of the choices that they have made to this point in their lives and career-have gotten them to where they are. Good choices, poor choices-all have consequences and, as they begin school some of those consequences will be following them so, when they feel overwhelmed, unable to cope, discouraged and ready to quit, like others who have posted, all of our staff and instructors endeavor to go beyond the how are you and take the time to dig without prying.
In that way, what may be an initial reason becomes something that we are able to help them walk through which will enable them not only to stay in school but improve their lives outside of school.
Well the first reason a student drops from a program is they are not able to do the work whether due to ability or outside reason such as family and work.
Another reason students may drop is that they find out they were lied to. Either being told they will not have to make any kind of cash payments to the school, or the regulations for certification in their perspective fields.
they have problem that come up that make the have to withdraw.
Debbie,
Hi! Many students (and society) have challenges that preempt school and other activities. When you mention employment, do you feel that they find employment in their field of study or just any type of employment? I mention this because many accrediting bodies will allow a school to consider a student placed if they attained the position due to their new skills and education.
Cindy Bryant
People have many challenges,and some people finds
employment.
