Academic Tips & Resources
Being a successful college student and taking care of your mental health can feel like a big challenge. But with the proper planning and support, you can do both.
The Campus Mind Works program at the University of Michigan aims to make it easier by providing some of the information you need to help you succeed in class in one convenient location. Here we’ll share useful tips and ideas for balancing your schoolwork with your well-being.
Tips for a successful semester
Plan your classes carefully
- Meet with your academic advisor. Talk to your advisor to find out more about your major program requirements and elective options. Select courses that not only interest you, but also allow you to use your talents.
- Avoid taking too many challenging classes at once. A balanced schedule will help you maintain your interest level and avoid burnout.
- Think about how many credit hours you can manage. Financial aid requirements can affect this decision. Many financial aid packages require a specific number of credit hours to be fulfilled each semester.
- Take care of your well-being. Talk to your academic advisor about classes that may help you manage stress and develop healthy coping skills, such as meditation, yoga, or spiritual/religious courses.
Take advantage of academic resources
- Get help outside the classroom. Be sure to take advantage of office hours, graduate student instructor (GSI) meetings, and study guides.
- Talk to a librarian. Visit the library and meet with a librarian if you need help with literature searches. Try the Ask a Librarian feature of the online database.
- Find a tutor. Talk with your academic advisor and check out the free or low-cost tutoring services offered by many departments.
- Ask for accommodations if needed. Make an appointment with Services for Students with Disabilities if you think you could benefit from accommodations.
- Explore English language resources. Consider taking a course at the English Language Institute to help you make the transition to using English for academic writing.
- Visit the Language Resource Center in the Modern Language Building
Get organized
- Use a tracking system. Use a notebook, calendar, planner, or a digital task-tracking app to keep track of the due dates for your tests/assignments. Also, note the deadlines for dropping classes.
- Plan your days. Practice good time management skills to stay on top of your assignments and reduce stress. Be sure to schedule time for healthy meals, wellness activities, and quality sleep.
Take care of yourself
- Manage your stress. Stress is a part of everyday life. But too much stress can harm both your mental health and your academic performance. Explore ways to keep your stress levels under control.
- Practice good self-care. Finding ways to take care of yourself while in school can improve your well-being and help you perform well in the classroom.
- Connect with your peers. Join academic clubs such as the anthropology or chemistry clubs for support from other students majoring in the same department.
- Talk with your mental health provider. Schedule an appointment with a mental health professional to talk about any symptoms that may be interfering with your academic performance.
If you have extreme test anxiety/social anxiety/anything that makes testing scenarios especially difficult for you, go talk to the Services for Students with Disabilities office. During my freshman year, despite great homework and class participation grades, I would often have a panic attack in the middle of an exam, leaving me with much lower grades than I knew I could get. After talking to the SSD office, they set me up with time and a half on exams and a smaller, quieter room to take the test in, allowing me to focus less on my nerves around time and crowds and more on proving my knowledge of the material.
— U-M student
Understanding academic withdrawals and suspensions
Should I withdraw from class?
If you are struggling to keep up with your classes due to a mental health condition, it may be time to discuss your options with your academic advisor. Deciding to drop a class can be hard, but a lighter class load might give you more time to focus on your mental health.
Students withdraw from classes for various reasons. When you withdraw, you get a “W” on your transcript instead of a grade. This does not hurt your GPA. The process for dropping a class may vary depending on your major program. Talk to your academic or program advisor for details.
If you decide to withdraw from a class, you may be eligible to request a waiver from Services for Students with Disabilities. This states that you are taking a lower course load due to medical difficulties and should still be considered a full-time student. The waiver may be helpful for financial aid, insurance or immigration purposes. Talk to the SSD office for more information.
Important things to know before you withdraw
- Impact on your financial aid. Before you withdraw from a class, be sure to talk to your financial aid officer(s) to understand precisely how schedule changes will impact you financially. For example, many grants, scholarships and loans require you to take a certain number of credits. Withdrawing from a class could cause you to lose funding.
- NCAA athletes and eligibility. If you are an athlete, the first thing to do is to talk to your coaches and academic advisors if you want to make a change to your class schedule. The NCAA requires athletes to maintain a minimum number of credits to keep their eligibility.
- International students. Many international students must be enrolled full-time to keep their immigration status. The U-M International Center offers immigration advising services.
What is an academic suspension?
You may find yourself in a position where you must take a semester off from school, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
What does academic suspension mean? If you are suspended, you cannot enroll in or attend courses at U-M. Suspension lasts at least the length of one semester. When you are ready, you must follow the formal reenrollment process to see if you can return to school.
Why might I be suspended? You may face suspension if your academic performance for a semester(s) is significantly below average, or if you fail to complete most or all of your courses within a term.
Are there benefits to suspension? While leaving school is difficult, if you are struggling academically because of your mental illness, having time away from school can allow you to:
- Devote your full energy to getting well.
- Prevent your GPA from falling, which can happen if you try to complete courses under stress.
- Have time to reassess your academic goals and think about new directions you may pursue when you return to school.
How do I return to school after suspension? The rules and process for returning after academic suspension may vary by college or program. You should refer to the letter you received from the school regarding your suspension for details on how to start the process.
To reenroll, you’ll need to follow the steps provided by the university. You may be asked to complete specific steps before you can come back. These may include taking a few classes at another school, getting a statement from your doctor confirming you are ready to return, or creating a plan to pay for school. The university wants you to succeed and make sure you are in a better position to do so.