HELP! I am struggling in my classes…now what?

If this is you, no worries!  Baylor has a ton of resources to help you be successful academically and personally, so keep reading to learn more about the support systems available to you.

General Tips:

• Ask for help sooner rather than later.  It is much easier to find the support systems you need and recover now than it is at the end of the semester.  Seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather, of wisdom and humility, and here at Baylor, we want you to be successful.
• Don’t compare yourself to other people.  Everyone has his/her own challenges, and it is unrealistic to compare your personal struggles with other people’s public successes.  Find what works for you, and be confident in that.
• Remember that you are not alone.  All of us have struggled with our classes at some point, so don’t get discouraged.  Instead of giving up, learn from this experience, and utilize some of the resources we have to support you during these times.

Academics:

• Professor office hours.  Still confused about that example problem done in class or exactly how that mechanism works?  Baylor faculty are so approachable and willing to help.  If their listed office hours do not fit in your schedule, send them a polite email, and they are more than willing to try to find time to meet with you.  Also, if you are have questions about the teaching labs, your TAs are also great resources.
• SI (Supplemental Instruction).  SI consists of free evening group review sessions led by a student who previously did well in the course.  SI leaders work closely with your specific professor to provide additional practice problems and practice exams, and on average, students who attend SI tend to perform about a letter grade better on exams than students who do not attend SI.  SI is a non-remedial resource, targeting difficult courses rather than high-risk students, and most SI leaders say it is the smart, hard-working students who choose to attend SI.
• Tutoring Center.  Baylor also has a free tutoring center, which offers private one-on-one appointments, group tutoring sessions, and even a YouTube channel, with some of their commonly asked difficult concepts.  Their hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 AM-8 PM, so there is plenty of flexibility with your schedule.
• University Writing Center.  For writing help, check out the University Writing Center, which can help you with any stage of the writing process through in-person consultations, online meetings, or written feedback.  Whether you are working on a paper for your English class or a lab report, the staff is equipped to help you develop your writing skills.
• Other Academic Support Programs.  The Paul L. Foster Success Center has many other programs to help support you during your academic journey with study skills, note taking, time management, coping with stress, and exam strategies.  Some of these initiatives include the Learning Lab, mentoring, and academic coaching.

Future Direction:

If you are interested in changing your major and/or career and professional goals, most college students change their major at least once, and that is totally normal.  However, before you make any rash decisions based on a struggle in a particular class, we would encourage you to talk to advisors, professors, your friendly Student Ambassadors, and others.  Some other available sources of guidance are:

• PreHealth advising.  If you are in a prehealth program, the Prehealth Office offers weekly walk-in (currently, Zoom in) appointment hours with the Prehealth advisors through Ask PreHealth.  They are a great resource and can help you navigate any decision to keep, drop, or change your prehealth professional goals.
• Career Center.  In addition to helping students with resumes, internships, interviews, and other professional skills, the Career Center also offers skill assessments to help you gain insight on your strengths.  Their team of advisors will also meet with you one-on-one and can help you combine your interests, skills, and course of study with potential job opportunities.
• University Advising.  Your academic advisor can also answer questions about changing your major/minor(s), degree requirements, and academic planning.

For some other resources meant to support Baylor students personally, mentally, and spiritually, check out our previous post on Navigating (Another) Semester During a Pandemic.  We hope this helps, and we wish you the best in all your endeavors!