My program has a low graduation rate and I'm horrified of flunking out of school! What should I do? Does it take more than just hard work?

I think that you need to have a talk with your teachers and the people who run your program, Girlieq. You need a pep-talk but more than that, I think you need a personal evaluation. You need to hear that you're working and acting like those 8-12 people who graduate.

The folks who run the program and teach you know if you are. I'd be willing to bet (based solely on the fact that you're worrying about this) that you are. I bet that you're handing in all of your assignments early or on time and that you're working hard.

Make an appointment to talk with a teaching dean or program coordinator. If possible make one appointment with a person that you like and one with a person that you don't like. Talk to them, heck - even record their conversation with you on your laptop so that you can listen to it later.

But these folks have seen a lot of students fail and succeed. They're there to help. Even with poor stats like 8-12 graduates, remember that the school wants you to graduate.

The admit people who they think will graduate and if they don't graduate, it looks bad on the school. Find out what resources the school has available to help you and use them to succeed.

In my experience, if this program is truly what you want, just work hard and get through it. You don't have to get straight A's but if you can graduate with a degree, it will be a huge help when it comes to getting a job. I agree that the teachers want you to succeed.

If you are struggling with certain classes, it might be worth it to meet with the instructor after class to get extra help. Stick with it if you can and know that it will be worth it in the end.

We had a 2/3 failure rate for some of the courses I did at university. It was done on purpose by the lecturers to make sure those that passed were qualified, had the right knowledge and the fortitude to stick it out. They never said it was going to be easy.

And those that stuck it out were given so much help to complete the course after weeding out the dross - day and night our lecturers were there for us because they knew we were worth it. Sounds like you're worth it too :) - Do the work - Turn up to every lecture - Work in study groups with those that are left - Ask questions after the lecture if you didn't catch it all - Ask for past exam questions and assignments if possible if you have time to do more than just class work - Attend study days if they are available - Tell the lecturer if you have trouble so they know you are interested and want help! An example at my university was chemistry.

The lecturer told us at the first lesson that he was marking the role ( what? At uni? ) Yep, it was his way of seeing who was going to pass.

He knew after years and years of teaching that anyone who missed lectures wasn't going to pass. He warned us, he warned them all. At the end of semester he put up an unnamed list.

Two columns - who attended lectures, who didn't attend and then if they passed. Pretty much any row with a person who didn't go to lectures also had them failing the course. It was plain as day :) No names were needed....

Let me share my very similar story with you to see if it can help. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone can help to boost your mood and motivation. I can relate.

I am taking a triple major in college, have weekly doctors appointments, more than a dozen writing clients that need me weekly, several hours of volunteer work per week, and then all the little things like cleaning, errands etc. It can feel like we are drowning. As each day passes, we feel like we are getting further and further behind. We don't sleep, eat, or see our friends.

We forget the little things because we are so focused on the big things. We work so hard we make ourselves sick and end up in an emergency room (it's happened twice now). And most of all, those around us really do not understand the incredible amount of stress we are under.

I still get overwhelmed with everything. Just last week I worked 136 hours in 7 days. That was just work and didn't include school or anything I have to get done.

To help alleviate the stress I had to teach myself that I am not perfect, that I am not invincible, and that I will not always walk away unscathed. We are only human and can only do so much. What greatly helps me is a daily schedule.

Every Sunday night I take an hour and write out a daily schedule for the next 7 days. I use different colored highlighters to prioritize. School and work come first.

Then volunteering and cleaning the house. Then the smaller things. First thing in the morning I tackle the hardest task for the day so that it is not looming all day long.

Then I tackle two smaller tasks, then the next largest task, and so on. These keeps be from completely burning out. If I finish early, I take advantage of it and rest, read, watch TV, see some friends etc. The key to juggling a very busy life, is finding balance.

Yes, this is a lot easier said than done. However, it is not impossible. It took me a good solid year to find balance.

Another thing that I'm sure you have heard a hundred times is work smarter not harder.It's cliche, but very true. However, what is smarter for me may be harder for you and vice versa. You are already on the path to success.

You have the drive and desire, not you just need to find your rhythm. It certainly does take more than hard work. It takes discipline, focus, drive, and perseverance.

I think you have these. You just have to fully put them into practice. It won't get easier, but in the end having that degree will make it all worth it.

I don't really have anything more to add to what people have already said. I think the answers here are on the mark. You can only do what you can do in the time alloted.

I've always believed that earning a degree is more a matter of persistence than anything else, and I just came across this quote which I read and thought of your question. I hope it helps keep you inspired and motivated to continue your studies. '''Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. ''' Calvin Coolidge 30th president of US (1872 - 1933).

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.