2. Often, there are other issues involved–death of a loved one, depression, obsessive perfectionism (to the point that students can’t even start assignments for fear they won’t be perfect), or other circumstances that make students lose interest in/motivation for academics. Since these students got into Yale, you know they weren’t always like this, and usually people can come out of that slump. Reaching out, non-judgmentally, really helps. Harvard Mental Health Services did a study about this. 40 freshmen came very, very close to flunking out in fall 2001. The next semester, Harvard tracked their actions and how their grades changed. Of the 20 students who got help–mental health counseling, tutoring, consulting with Harvard’s Bureau of Study Counsel–EVERY SINGLE ONE improved his or her grades (at least marginally). They worked through their issues—whether personal, academic, or just with time management–and realized they were not alone. Of the 20 who did not seek help, several were forced to withdraw for academic reasons and the rest continued just edging by. Those students believed they were the only people struggling and everyone else was just better/smarter/happier than they were. Advise your struggling students to just reach out to someone. It doesn’t have to be you–ask if their friends know about their troubles, or if they’re spiraling out of control without a shoulder to cry on. Tell the students to talk to their academic/residential advisors, Mental Health Services, and their families. They’re probably freaking out more than you are, and the worst thing in the world for an overachiever is to believe she’s/he’s suddenly a failure–and that (s)he can’t tell anyone.

That’s my long-winded opinion. Anyone else want to chime in? Why do Yalies fail–and what should Yale do to help those people? Let’s start a dialogue about this.

Or did you actually mean MLIG?

I feel bad for both sets, for different reasons. Pretty much all the students here are amazing – no need to go berserk.