Students drop out of school for complex reasons. On the surface, students seem to drop
out because of poor grades or the need to work. Lack of money to pursue college, vocational or
technical training are some of the main reasons why most students are forced to work after high
school or to attend college on a part-time basis. In reality, students often leave because they have
not received enough help from home, school or the community from someone who can set higher
standards and help them to achieve more in life. Another reason students may drop out of school is
related to their educational experiences in school, either past or present events. Moreover, some
students believe a college degree is not a factor in achieving success and think it is more important
to stay focused on getting promoted and earning more money. Regardless of the reason, more and
more students either drop out or avoid enrolling, and this pattern will continue due to fee increases
and reductions to class seating. There are no quick fixes or time interventions for this problem and
the consequences can be huge; however, there are many concrete things that colleges and
support groups can do to help students stay in school or get an alternative education and also
meet their personal responsibilities. Some students arrange for themselves to work in the
school they are attending, which lowers tuition costs and helps them with their personal
financial situation. Also, students can benefit from asking questions during class, meeting with the
teacher or getting with a study group to better understand and build encouragement to continue
school. Working with peers, counselors, professors and school administrators can help motivate
students to remain in school.