Unaccustomed to getting mediocre marks, some students don't know how to cope with something they've never faced before. Confidence is a fragile commodity. It can be difficult for them to get back on track. They can't go into it with the enthusiasm they had in the past. Students have to realize that people looking at med school applications, for instance, will understand a drop in grades during the first semester.
Undergraduates are particularly vulnerable to dropping out during their first year.
Which is why Copeland has her fairly new job. Copeland is a resource for first-year students feeling their legs. Sometimes people from small towns get thrown by the big city. When they encounter academic stress and they're far from home. I steer them to the Volunteer's Bureau where they can get involved with all kinds of organizations.