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Adjusting to the Academic Workload

by Betsy Chapman

Your student has likely noticed that the volume and pace of college academics are substantially greater than what they experienced in high school. Professors often cover complex topics in a matter of days, which can feel daunting.

To help your student find their academic footing, share these core strategies:

  • Treat the syllabus as a contract: The course syllabus outlines all assignments, grading metrics, and attendance expectations. Your student should review it weekly to anticipate major deadlines.

  • Utilize office hours: First-year students are sometimes hesitant to ask for help, feeling they “should” already know the material. Remind them that the strongest students regularly meet with professors during office hours to clarify concepts.

  • Access specialized centers: Wake Forest provides robust, free academic assistance. Encourage your student to visit the Center for Learning, Access and Student Success (CLASS) for peer tutoring, or utilize our specialized writing, math and stats, chemistry, and computer science centers.

Academic adjustment is a marathon, not a sprint, and hitting a few bumps early on is part of the learning process. Remind your student that asking for help is a sign of strength, and we have a whole campus ready to support them.

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support. You can also visit we.wfu.edu for resources.