College Drop-Outs - Essay Example

Poverty has increased over the years. It is very difficult for an average student to afford an education at a good university. People start their journey of education with the hope to get higher education one day. But by the time they reach that stage, they find their pockets too empty to even think about that. This becomes the cause of drop-outs for a lot of students. This is, indeed, a very unfortunate thing that someone capable of studying cannot study only because they don’t have money. Some students take loans to afford their education, but they go through a very tough and demanding experience emotionally, psychologically, and physically.

Homesickness is a common reason for the drop-out of college, both among native and international students. Most of the 21.8 million students attending colleges and universities in America would be leaving their homes to explore a new environment, develop new relationships, and do everything by themselves; “More than a few of those students will suffer homesickness, which can turn into depression, low motivation, insomnia, stomach aches and loneliness -- and their dropout rates are three times higher than non-homesick students, according to one 1993 study” (Lorenz). Native students living in hostels to save the cost of having to move from home to university every day have to live away from their families. Not only do they have to cope with homesickness, but they also have to deal with a lot of other challenges like bullying. A hostel, in no way, compares to a home in terms of environment. There are a lot of distractions in hostels. Young boys and girls form groups and gangs and tend to bully a certain students. The student finds it very difficult to deal with such groups and eventually drops out. Things are no less tough for international students who have come from different countries to study at a certain university. International students also have to deal with many more problems in addition to homesickness; they have to find suitable accommodation and work to be able to manage their expenses. They miss their families back home. Those international students who cannot deal with all these challenges simultaneously eventually drop out of college.

To pay the college fee, many students work. This is typically observed among international students. They come from underdeveloped and developing countries in search of better educational and life opportunities. Their parents are not that rich to pay their fees. Knowing that they have to manage everything by themselves, most international students work along with studying. Most of the time, they find menial jobs like dishwashing, and when it comes to pay, every hour counts. They feel obliged to work as many hours as they can to be able to earn more. They face a lot of problems trying to manage work with education. Gradually, they realize that even if they drop out but continue with their work, it would not only make their life easier but would also lend them an opportunity to settle down in a foreign country. They also realize that they are earning more than they possibly can in their native countries. Hence, many international students drop out of the college.

Concluding, drop-outs are commonly observed among students of all ages in general and the ones in higher education in particular. While there are many causes of drop-outs, some of the prominent causes include the inability to pay fees, homesickness, and the need to work. Dropping out is a one-time decision that an individual has to pay for throughout life. Unfortunately, while they are making this decision, students are too immature and inexperienced to make an informed decision. They need guidance and counseling which is not there for them. Governments should particularly target this issue and formulate policies that make things easier and more convenient for the students so that more students can finish their journey and achieve their goals.