The Startling Truth About Dropping Out of College and the Impact On Your Life:
- Most college dropouts leave during their first academic year.
- Up to 32.9% of undergraduates do not complete their degree program.
- College dropouts make an average of 32.6% less income than bachelor’s degree holders.
- College dropouts are 19.6% more likely to be unemployed than any degree holder.
- Dropout rates are higher at 2-year institutions than 4-year institutions.
- Compared with non-college-graduates, individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree have higher lifetime earnings, lower odds of unemployment, and better health outcomes.
Additionally, 30% of college students reported that their level of stress had a negative effect on their academic performance. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) said, “Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems on college campuses.”
The Student Success Strategist
Shandra L. McDonald, DPA, is a student success strategist. She's an Upward Bound Alumni and a former Educational Opportunity Program student. She’s passionate about helping college freshman survive and thrive during their first year of college so that they can graduate within 5 years. She knows first-hand what it is like to struggle academically as a college freshman. Completely overwhelmed her first year of college, she often felt like giving up. She had a difficult time adjusting to the fast pace and the workload. She eventually developed strategies to improve her grades because she knew that a college education was her ticket to a better life. She’s on a mission to teach self-awareness and her SELF-Discipline System to college freshmen.
Dr. McDonald's strategy took her from clueless to Cum Laude. She's earned three college degrees (Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Public Administration, and Doctor of Public Administration), entered Federal service under the Outstanding Scholars Program, served as an adjunct professor, and appears as a guest lecturer. She is the author of Academic Survival: Simple Strategies for Improving Your Grades, contributing author of the textbook Government at Work: Policy Making in the Twenty-First-Century Congress, and host of Academic Survival: The Podcast That Gets Freshman to Graduation.
Valuable Systems That Will Quickly Launch You Into Academic Success
There is no real secret to exam preparation; preparation starts on DAY ONE! Like exam prep, from day one Dr. McDonald will help you build your semester roadmap so that you don't feel overwhelmed and you stay organized.
Learn the reliable Divide and Conquer Method to help you work through reading assignments and become more intentional about workload management. If you happen to struggle with time management like 48% of college students do, Dr. McDonald can help improve your time management by providing unique self-management tools.
“I’ve never known anyone who regretted earning their degree, but I know of people who did regret NOT EARNING IT.” ~Dr. Shandra L. McDonald
Dr. Shandra L. McDonald is a Certified Game Changer and is a Certified DISC and Motivators Practitioner! She's available for assessment debriefs, consultations, seminars, and workshops to help students become self-aware and better navigate the pressures of Freshman year.
