Emotional Stress is Driving Students to Consider Leaving College

A recent Gallup and Lumina Foundation poll found that an astounding third of four-year college students surveyed have considered leaving college over the last six months, and of that number, over 75% cited emotional stress as the primary consideration. Similar numbers were cited for two-year college students, with more than a third thinking of stopping or dropping out, and over 40% citing emotional stress. High cost was a second significant driver of this sobering trend, with COVID-19 also still a factor. 

With college mental health staff beyond maxed, and counseling appointments and waitlists filled, coaches' time with students has become an even more pivotal driver of engagement and retention. Coaches can help students sort through the causes of stress, reflect on the value of learning and of the degree they seek, and problem-solve regarding the issues that stall them on the way to finishing their programs. 

For students who stop shy of degree completion but still accrue heavy loan debt, the cost is high. Finding a way to finish helps both the student and the institution. Coaches working with students thinking about leaving might ask:

• What is keeping you from moving forward, and how do you feel about it?

• How can you address the most challenging roadblock right now?

• What is your vision of where this degree can take you in your life?

• Who is your role model for what you plan to do with your degree?



• What can you do this week to make staying in school more possible?  

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