School: Ridiculous Expectations

[The_Martyr]

This isn't about just high school and middle school. This is about college and the expectations.

So, I'm a college freshman, music education major... In every single one of my classes, I have my teachers saying "This class is the most important class you have. It should be at the forefront of anything you do, because if you don't pass this, you don't move on"... Well... Yeah. That's how classes are. You don't pass, you can't move forward. Is it just me, or is it ridiculous with the amount of pressure and work that is put on a common college student?

A few statistics:
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for those aged 15-24 and the second leading cause of death of college students.
- Students reported during the last school year feeling the following:
Over 60% of the students reported feeling things were hopeless one or more times.
Almost 40% of the men and 50% of the women reported feeling so depressed that they had difficulty functioning one or more times.
10% of the students reported seriously considering attempting suicide at least one time.
(cited from healthyminds.org)

I mean... Really? Maybe it's just me. Do you think schools, parents and society in general are putting way too much pressure on students to succeed? Many times, people won't even make it past their freshman year, they drop out and even after that, they are pushed even HARDER to be at the top of their class. Is there too much pressure being put on college students?

[Cea]

It's college for a reason. It's end-game s**t.

My classes are all the same. Each one is "work harder than before" "this is THE class" and on and on. You just have to do what you can and learn all you can, trying to ignore what they say all the time.

[Cassidy Peterson]

The_Martyr

A few statistics:
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for those aged 15-24 and the second leading cause of death of college students.
- Students reported during the last school year feeling the following:
Over 60% of the students reported feeling things were hopeless one or more times.
Almost 40% of the men and 50% of the women reported feeling so depressed that they had difficulty functioning one or more times.
10% of the students reported seriously considering attempting suicide at least one time.
(cited from healthyminds.org)

Are there any statistics linking suicide with school itself rather than societal issues? I was suicidal in high school. It had nothing to do with my work load.

[GreenAnt]

No.

There are many reasons other than pressure to succeed that a college kid commits suicide.

Most, if not all, schools have student resources. These include access to counselling. They often include access to tutors. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your emotions or the schoolwork, take advantage of these services. Quite often simply talking to someone can alleviate a lot of stress even if nothing actually changes. In most of the higher education institutions you can also drop a course or two without penalty up to a certain date - and beyond that date if you make use of student services and plead special circumstances.

Schools do realize that a student can feel pressured, and that's why they've instituted these services. But they can't force students to make use of them. Nor should they lower standards for all the students when only some of them are having problems.

[Miss Evalyn]

I'm a Canadian. Most of our post-secondary institutions aren't that difficult to be admitted into, and the tuition costs are partially subsidised by the government. Those alone take away from the stresses of an average high school student wanting to be admitted.

That said, competition within classes on a curve can still be very demanding and unrealistic.
(For example, I finished with 88% in an economics course last term. My final grade was a B.)
It can be hectic, yes, but I don't think course loads are the only stressors a college student has.

[Aslana]

College/University may seem hard, but just wait.

The real world has a helluva lot more pressure. 3nodding

Just thought I'd try to put things in perspective.

[Lil Can of Alzheimers]

No, Western kids are just spoilt and lazy.

[xXRaskinXx]

Aslana

College/University may seem hard, but just wait.

The real world has a helluva lot more pressure. 3nodding

Just thought I'd try to put things in perspective.

college students are in the real world. confused

Balancing a job for your tuition, having to make ends meat live in your current house, etc. Is not real enough?

[Lil Can of Alzheimers]

Stalker_101

Aslana

College/University may seem hard, but just wait.

The real world has a helluva lot more pressure. 3nodding

Just thought I'd try to put things in perspective.

college students are in the real world. confused

Balancing a job for your tuition, having to make ends meat live in your current house, etc. Is not real enough?

rofl

[Kikarok]

Stalker_101

Aslana

College/University may seem hard, but just wait.

The real world has a helluva lot more pressure. 3nodding

Just thought I'd try to put things in perspective.

college students are in the real world. confused

Balancing a job for your tuition, having to make ends meat live in your current house, etc. Is not real enough?

Those things, other than tuition, are independent of being in college.

[il faut]

Beyond the age you are aloud to drop out of school education is a choice.

[Lil Can of Alzheimers]

Kikarok

Stalker_101

Aslana

College/University may seem hard, but just wait.

The real world has a helluva lot more pressure. 3nodding

Just thought I'd try to put things in perspective.

college students are in the real world. confused

Balancing a job for your tuition, having to make ends meat live in your current house, etc. Is not real enough?

Those things, other than tuition, are independent of being in college.

To be fair thats what uni is like in thee uk. For many students.

[Aslana]

Mostly befuddled

Kikarok

Stalker_101

Aslana

College/University may seem hard, but just wait.

The real world has a helluva lot more pressure. 3nodding

Just thought I'd try to put things in perspective.

college students are in the real world. confused

Balancing a job for your tuition, having to make ends meat live in your current house, etc. Is not real enough?

Those things, other than tuition, are independent of being in college.

To be fair thats what uni is like in thee uk. For many students.

From what I understood, uni was massively cheaper at most UK schools. x.

But that isn't the point, as was already mentioned.

[Lil Can of Alzheimers]

Aslana

Mostly befuddled

Kikarok

Stalker_101

Aslana

College/University may seem hard, but just wait.

The real world has a helluva lot more pressure. 3nodding

Just thought I'd try to put things in perspective.

college students are in the real world. confused

Balancing a job for your tuition, having to make ends meat live in your current house, etc. Is not real enough?

Those things, other than tuition, are independent of being in college.

To be fair thats what uni is like in thee uk. For many students.

From what I understood, uni was massively cheaper at most UK schools. x.

But that isn't the point, as was already mentioned.

Comparing prices like that is like comparing applles with oranges, doesn't take into account the cost of living etc.

[childsdragon]

I feel that college is supposed to be challenging, that is it's nature. One doesn't want under qualified adults entering the workplace as specialists. Each class is important and a balance must be derived. Of course professors are going to preach the importance of their classes, it is a way for them to stoke their egos and add value to their profession.