Some students are unprepared for the rigorous academics required to succeed in college. If you skirted through high school with little or no studying, you’ll be in for a rude awakening once you get to college. Professors aren’t baby-sitters; they expect you to read and learn on your own outside of class. If you don’t, your grades will show it. A semester of bad grades is often enough to cause some students to give up on school.