Personal Problems

The following are some examples of real life problems that our students often experience during their years at Rensselaer. While we don't expect faculty advisors to be psychologists, it is important that they be good observers and listeners who are supportive and caring in their dealings with their advisees. We would also expect them to refer these students and/or problems to the Advising and Learning Assistance Center or another appropriate office such as the Counseling Center if they feel they are not in a position to help the student beyond a certain point.

Here are some common problems:

Students trying high school methods in their approach to studying here at Rensselaer; i.e., playing catch-up, just looking over notes the night before a test and getting "A's" and "B's," cramming, etc. In other words, no routine daily study habits.

Students find themselves in the bottom half of the class for the first time and are afraid.

Hurt over the breakup of a relationship.

Parents are splitting up and students often feel they could help if they were home.

New found social freedom (nobody telling them when to get up, do homework, go to bed, etc.)

Depression - lots of sleeping and other signs of unhappiness (mood swings, etc.)

Coming from a background of either physical, verbal or sexual abuse.

Sexuality; i.e., a person is gay and friends and family are not supportive (or don't know.)

Substance abuse (alcohol, marajuana, cocaine, etc.)

Missing home (parents, friends, the safe surroundings where they achieved so well, etc.)

Poor management of time (This is a major one.)

Getting overly involved in an extracurricular activity. This could be anything and the activities themselves may be fine, but overindulgence can hurt academics. Examples: WRPI, The Poly, Student Government, Fraternity/Sorority, etc.

Student falls in love.

The are others, but hopefully you get the idea. Our students are experiencing many of the growing pains that we have and they often need some help/advice or understanding to help them through these things that can really affect their academic success.

		*Personal Problems*
		The following are some examples of real life problems that our students often experience during their years at Rensselaer. While we don't expect faculty advisors to be psychologists, it is important that they be good observers and listeners who are supportive and caring in their dealings with their advisees. We would also expect them to refer these students and/or problems to the Advising and Learning Assistance Center or another appropriate office such as the Counseling Center if they feel they are not in a position to help the student beyond a certain point. Here are some common problems:
			Students trying high school methods in their approach to studying here at Rensselaer; i.e., playing catch-up, just looking over notes the night before a test and getting "A's" and "B's," cramming, etc. In other words, no routine daily study habits.
			Students find themselves in the bottom half of the class for the first time and are afraid.
			Hurt over the breakup of a relationship.
			Parents are splitting up and students often feel they could help if they were home.
			New found social freedom (nobody telling them when to get up, do homework, go to bed, etc.)
			Depression - lots of sleeping and other signs of unhappiness (mood swings, etc.)
			Coming from a background of either physical, verbal or sexual abuse.
			Sexuality; i.e., a person is gay and friends and family are not supportive (or don't know.)
			Substance abuse (alcohol, marajuana, cocaine, etc.)
			Missing home (parents, friends, the safe surroundings where they achieved so well, etc.)
			Poor management of time (This is a major one.)
			Getting overly involved in an extracurricular activity. This could be anything and the activities themselves may be fine, but overindulgence can hurt academics. Examples: WRPI, The Poly, Student Government, Fraternity/Sorority, etc.
			Student falls in love.
		The are others, but hopefully you get the idea. Our students are experiencing many of the growing pains that we have and they often need some help/advice or understanding to help them through these things that can really affect their academic success.