Fear of Flunking Out Academic pressure is a fact of life in any University setting.
College is meant to present academic challenges.
Students need to develop skills in order to handle the pressures of some of these challenges. Most incoming Penn State freshmen find they have to work much harder for the same grades they received in high school. Other returning students along with new graduate students find themselves initially intimidated by what's expected of them. Some anxiety is helpful in motivating students but too much anxiety about academic success blocks productivity. Here are some suggestions about handling fears about flunking out.