Why Hard Work Isn’t Enough: Proven Study Strategies to Help Your College Freshman Conquer Midterms
The phone rings. It’s your daughter. Her voice is shaky, and before you know it, she’s in tears.
She studied for hours—skipped the sorority mixer, stayed late in the library, highlighted every page—and still came home with a 67 on her first exam. To make matters worse, her roommate isn’t friendly, and she feels alone.
That evening, you and your spouse sit at the dinner table, replaying the call. Your hearts ache. You wonder, What can we do? By dessert, you’ve already made a decision: you’ll drive down this weekend and help her study. You’ll make sure she passes the next test.
It feels like the right move. But here’s the hard truth: sometimes helping too much doesn’t help at all.
The Midterm Wake-Up Call: Why College Studying Is Harder Than High School
Whether your student breezed through AP classes or needed tutoring to get by, the first semester of college is a massive leap in independent learning.
High school study strategies—like review sheets, flashcards, or rereading notes—might have worked before. But college is different. Students are expected to:
- Master large volumes of content quickly (lectures + readings)
- Learn independently, without step-by-step guidance
- Move from memorization into analysis, application, and synthesis
Midterms act like a spotlight, exposing the gap between effort and academic returns.
Why So Many Freshmen Stumble: What the Research Shows
Freshmen across the country often struggle with their first set of college exams. Consider this:
- Nearly one-third of first-year students (32.6%) do not return for the spring semester, showing how early academic challenges can derail success. Source
- In traditional lecture-based courses, just over one-third of students either withdraw or earn D’s/F’s. Source
- Some individual courses report midterm failure rates as high as 80%. Source
Common contributors include:
- Ineffective study habits carried over from high school
- Overwhelm from new independence and responsibility
- Stress, mental health struggles, and lack of sleep
- Poor time management and executive function skills
The Hidden Reason Students Struggle: Outdated Study Habits
It’s common for well-meaning students to cling to what once “worked” in high school—highlighting, rereading, and cramming. But those methods don’t prepare them for the depth and speed of college learning.
They face:
- Lecture + reading overload (30–75+ pages weekly plus class hours)
- Passive learning that doesn’t create deep connections
- Short quizzes that don’t reflect the full body of knowledge
Without new strategies, students don’t realize they’re off track until midterm grades deliver the wake-up call.
Different Exams Require Different Study Strategies
One of the biggest mistakes students make is treating all exams the same. But the way you prepare for an economics exam is very different from how you prepare for a literature or psychology exam.
Examples:
- Essay exams → outlining, synthesizing, practicing timed writing
- Objective exams → active recall, practice quizzes
- STEM/problem-based exams → solving problem sets, reviewing mistakes
- Analytical exams → concept maps, teaching the material to someone else
The Science of Sticky Learning: Evidence-Based Study Strategies That Work
To build durable learning, students need proven strategies to conquer midterms:
- Multi-sensory encoding: make learning visual, auditory, and kinesthetic
- Spaced repetition: revisit material at strategic intervals
- Active recall: quiz yourself, teach the material, do retrieval practice
- Interleaving: mix problem types rather than studying one in a block
- Elaboration: connect new ideas to what’s already known
It’s not about studying longer. It’s about studying smarter.
The Parent Dilemma: Helping Without Over-Helping
As a parent, it’s natural to step in when your child struggles. But when parents rescue too often, students internalize the message:
👉 “You can’t do this without me.”
The result? Students lean harder on their parents instead of developing independence.
How Coaching Bridges the Gap: Empowerment Over Rescue
Instead of parents carrying the weight, coaching gives students the tools to carry it themselves.
When I coach undergraduates, we focus on three proven structures:
- Executive Function Support – time management, organization, decision-making skills
- Evidence-Based Study Strategies – tailored to subject and exam type
- Intentional Self-Care – stress reduction, sleep, nutrition, and medication routines
These three pillars empower students to take ownership of their learning, reduce stress, and enter exams with confidence.
Encouragement for Parents
If you’ve had that tearful phone call—or if you’ve been tempted to drive down and save the day—please take a breath.
Your student isn’t failing at life. They’re adjusting to a bigger playing field. With the right support, they can (and will) succeed.
Coaching creates a bridge: your student gains independence and resilience, while you gain peace of mind.
Next Step: Book a Free Midterm Rescue Coaching Call
Midterms are approaching quickly—but there’s still time to turn things around. Your student doesn’t need more stress. They need clarity, structure, and confidence.