Academic Failure Rates in High School vs College

Hello everyone, I've been looking up a few statistics out of curiosity and could use some help. Does anyone know whether academic failure rates are higher for high school or for college students? I'm just trying to gauge what to expect as I make the leap from high school to college.

That's a great question! It's a little bit complex as circumstances are going to vary greatly between level of schooling, subject matter, individual institutions, and individual student abilities.

However, generally speaking, the rate of academic failure is often reported to be higher in college than in high school. There are a few possible reasons for this.

First, the academic expectations are typically higher in college, and the workload is more intense. You're expected to engage deeply with the material, and often to learn more independently, than in high school.

Second, college students often have more responsibilities and distractions. Besides their academics, they might be dealing with part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, and living on their own for the first time, all of which can make it harder to stay on top of their coursework.

Finally, support structures are also different. In high school, teachers often play a more active role in reminding students about due dates and providing support if they see students struggling. In college, while professors and support resources are available, students are generally expected to take the initiative to seek out support when needed.

That said, while these challenges exist, many college students also thrive acadically given the opportunity to specialize in subjects of their interest, flexibility in schedule, and the independent learning approach. It's all about how you mitigate these challenges and take advantage of the resources available at your college.

Remember that college is a significant transition and it's okay to take some time to adapt to the new environment. Good planning, time management, and use of academic resources can greatly contribute to limiting the chance of academic failure.