Academic Difficulty
Struggling in your courses?
Many students face academic challenges at some point during their college career. We understand that it can be difficult to ask for help if you are struggling in your courses.
If you are experiencing challenges in your coursework, we strongly encourage you to contact your instructor to discuss the challenges you are facing and attempt to identify helpful resources and strategies. It is important to ask for help as soon as possible—as soon as you think you are struggling academically or personally.
We also encourage you to connect with your academic advisor (link to schools/colleges contacts page) if any of the following apply to you:
- You are currently having a probationary semester
- The challenge or difficulty you have been experiencing has been a recurring issue
- You have had a pattern of academic difficulty in courses that are similar to each other
Causes of academic difficulty
Academic difficulty is often a symptom of some other underlying issue(s). Below are some examples of factors that can impact your academic performance. Sometimes students may find that a combination of factors have contributed to their academic difficulty.
- Adjustment to college life
- Not feeling a sense of belonging or connection to community, friends, family
- Course selection; too many units, an overly challenging combination of courses, or course subjects you lack interest in
- Ineffective study skills or habits; not seeking help or tutoring support
- Personal issues; family, physical/mental health, finances, work, relationships
- Motivational challenges
- Unclear direction or goals; impacting course selection and choice of major
- Pursuing a major that is not a good fit
- Undiagnosed or untreated disability
- Traumatic event
What kind of support do you need?
If you have a sense of the underlying factors that are impacting your academics, consider next what kind of support would be helpful to address them. For example, if you have noticed that spending hours studying alone has not yielded the grades you want to earn, you may decide to make a plan to attend office hours more often, utilize tutoring at the Student Learning Center, or join a study group. If you are feeling unsure whether your intended major is a good fit, you might make an appointment with the Career Counseling Library or meet with an L&S College Adviser to learn more about alternate majors.
Some helpful campus resources you might consider utilizing include:
- Dean of Students Office (DOS)
- Student Health and Wellness (SHaW)
- Center for Students with Disabilities
- The Major Experience
- The Academic Achievement Center (AAC)
- Tutoring Centers
- Center for Career and Development (CSD)
Whatever the underlying cause of your academic challenge is, you can meet with your academic advisor (link to Find my Advisor) to strategize and develop an action plan. Learn more about Academic and Student Support Resources.
How do I know that I need help?
Our bodies often send us signals that something isn’t right or that we have an unaddressed need. These signals can show up changes in your mood, emotional response, energy and motivation, and overall health and well-being. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms and/or academic difficulty, it is important that you seek support.
- Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious
- Frustration, anger, moodiness
- Procrastination
- Decreased motivation to attend class, complete assignments, and/or study
- Isolation or loneliness
- Inability to focus
- Homesickness
- Difficulty sleeping or too much sleep
How do I make an action plan?
Making changes to your course enrollments, grading options, or even withdrawing should be considered carefully. Review information about academic policies, deadlines and processes;(Link to Academic Regulations Page, Registrar Policies) consider potential current and future outcomes, and we encourage you to reach out to discuss your options with your academic advisor before making a decision.
Continued academic success over the long run sometimes requires making changes to how you manage your time or approach studying, or addressing other factors in your life that are impacting your ability to focus on academics. Review these resources and supports (link to resources page), as you navigate your options and make a plan for academic support.
Credit: L&S Advising/Berkeley – Options if you are struggling in your courses | L&S Advising (berkeley.edu)
There’s an urgent matter impacting my academics
If you have an urgent matter that is impacting your academics, we suggest that you do the following:
Contact your course instructor as soon as possible so that you may find out your options for making up missed work, exams, etc.
Contact your advisor, who can assist with connecting you with resources as well as review options if you have missed or will miss any important academic deadlines. (link)