15 Most Common Student Problems And Their Solutions

Once you start your life as a student at a university or college, you know you will be overwhelmed with hurdles and distractions, sometimes you are prepared for it, and sometimes you are not. We have come up with a list of the 15 most common student problems in schools and solutions for each of them. We believe that the answers provided by us will help clear the  problems faced by students for the times you have not mentally prepared yourself for the hurdles.

1. Time Management

Any level of effective study involves time management. So if you frequently have to stay up late to finish a piece of homework, struggle to meet deadlines, or feel overburdened with work, these are one of the most common problems faced by students in school. This is an indication that you need to improve your time management abilities to avoid one of the most common freshmen mistakes.

Ways to overcome this are to:
1. Set a To-Do list.
2. Break down large tasks
3. Use tools to schedule your tasks
4. Use breaks to your advantage
5. Ask for help

2. You're experiencing low motivation

Are you overwhelmed easily? One of the most common problems faced by students in their studies is the lack of motivation. The sheer effort required to earn your qualifications can seem unattainable if you lack the internal motivation to succeed. You can see yourself getting stressed about every little thing. You haven't been sleeping well and are constantly worried about failure. 

The first step in solving this issue is to see what motivates you:
1. Rewarding yourself
2. Understanding your study style
3. Acknowledge what is stopping you
4. Face your fears
5. Communicate your difficulties

3. There are too many distractions

The capacity of students to concentrate on studying can be severely hampered by social media, friends, phones, television, video games, and outings, making it one of the most common problems faced by students in their studies. It's time to switch to a working environment and learn to avoid distractions while studying that are more suited to learning if you feel that various distractions hamper your productivity.

Ways to conquer your distractions can be:
1. Creating the right environment
2. Clean up and organise your workspace
3. Use music as an escape
4. Shut off your phone
5. Set a deadline

4. You have difficulty concentrating

Do you find yourself sitting in front of a blank page, staring at it and unable to start your work? These problems faced by students in school are typical to become distracted and experience a sharp decline in productivity; therefore, difficulty concentrating. Lack of attention is one of the symptoms of procrastination, so if you find yourself frequently checking social media or sending texts while you should be working, it's clear that you need to concentrate on increasing your concentration levels.

To concentrate properly:
1. Clear your head
2. Talk to a school counsellor
3. Set achievable goals
4. Find the right learning style
5. Do not push yourself too much

5. Dealing with Homesickness

Being homesick can be one of the most complex problems faced by students, as this is their first time being away from home. But because of the plethora of contemporary communication methods, those who miss home can stay in touch with their loved ones online.

Ways to overcome this are by:
1. Join a support group
2. Understand the cause
3. Ask for care packages from home
4. Do things you loved doing back home
5. Talk about your feelings
Check out our blog about dealing with homesickness to know more.

6. Dealing with Depression

The most common challenge faced by students in school is dealing with depression, stress, or anxiety at some point during their college careers. It may be a sad time when a student feels helpless, unworthy, or uncertain about the future. Partying can be a way of dealing with depression, but when done excessively or over time, it can lead to depression. Most health issues arising during university life can be caused by poor self-care, insufficient sleep, and increased stress.

Ways to deal with this challenge faced by students in school can be:
1. Talk to a friend
2. Seek Counselling
3. Mindfulness Exercises
4. Set Healthy Boundaries
5. Improve your sleep habits

7. Social Problems

Things get tricky when you're on campus alone and don't know a single person or know too many. You can feel like you don't belong if you lack confidence in yourself or social skills or get overwhelmed with constantly socialising. Be it the former or the latter, it is one of the most common problems faced by students in their studies. Being in an unknown environment with strangers might make you feel anxious, vulnerable, and exposed. But know that everyone around you is dealing with the same things as you are, so you are not alone. However, spending excessive time together might be difficult and lead to arguments. Social interactions can divert attention.

To avoid social problems:
1. Start a conversation
2. Join college clubs
3. Take a walk
4. Prioritise your time
Check out our blog to read about beating loneliness while living abroad.

8. Choosing a Major

The decision to choose a major is very straining, which is why it is on this list of problems faced by students in their studies. Making the appropriate choice feels crucial because it is simple to believe that your major will influence your future profession, income, and stress. The fact that your future job and the money you'll make at work mostly depend on this choice causes most of the pressure.

In order to tackle this issue:
1. Choose something you enjoy
2. Go with something broad and adaptable
3. Acquiring life skills
4. Consider changing your major
Still confused while choosing a major? Check out our best majors for future blog.

9. You lack the right resources

This one is possibly the simplest but the most common challenge faced by students in school. Academic achievement depends on having access to the proper materials, including the books, tools, teachers to speak with, and other things you need to learn correctly.

A few of them are:
1. Reach out to your teachers
2. Ask parents for help

10. Dealing with Relationships

Although beneficial, relationships at university may be stressful. They can sometimes take a lot of your time and start to interfere with your study may not seem like it, but it is one of the problems faced by students in their studies. Every relationship, be it friendship, will occasionally experience a fight that will keep them from studying and raise their stress levels. Some students may become even more depressed after a breakup.

The way to deal with relationships at university is as follows:
1. Study together
2. Understand your needs
3. Keep realistic expectations
4. Communicate your issues
5. Catch up during breaks

11. Financial Problems for students

The most common challenge faced by students in school is the high pace of tuition inflation. When you combine these expenses with the price of accommodation, food, supplies, transportation, and textbooks, you have a recipe for overwhelming debt, which adds to the list of financial problems for students.

Other than considering working while studying overseas, ways to deal with financial problems for students are to:
1. Educate yourself on the loan structure
2. Consider on-campus job
3. Create a budget
4. Take up part-time jobs
5. Earn scholarships
6. Cook at home
Wanna know how to make a few extra bucks? Check out this blog about money-earning apps for students.

12. Housing Problems

Finding the ideal location to stay can be difficult and is one of the biggest problems faced by students, but securing a spot in a dorm or hostel is possible. It would be best if you considered a wide range of variables, including rent costs, amenities, roommates, and distance, among many others.

You can deal with housing problems by:
1. Consider off-campus student accommodation.
2. Find a trustworthy student accommodation website.
3. Always have a backup option.
Check out our blog section that deals with living abroad as a student, where you will find many housing tips, tricks and the best areas to live in!

13. Test Anxiety

It has become common for students to experience anxiety before an exam. They struggle with academics and are under pressure to perform well. It can manifest in different ways, such as nervousness, panic, or stress before and during exams. Physical symptoms include sweating, trembling, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty in breathing. It can negatively impact a student's performance, leading to poor grades, difficulty concentrating, and avoidance of studying or attending class. It affects a student's mental health and well-being, causing feelings of low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal thoughts in severe cases. 

Ways to handle test anxiety:

1. Try techniques such as deep breathing exercises, visualisation, positive self-talk, and time management strategies. 
2. Seek help from a mental health professional if the anxiety is persistent or severe.
3. Develop healthy study habits and learn effective test-taking strategies to tackle anxiety.

14. Technology Related Issues

Technological issues range from internet connectivity issues, device malfunctions, software glitches, and compatibility issues. It leads to students missing important deadlines, losing important coursework, and being unable to attend virtual classes or complete online assessments. This leads to significant stress and frustration, causing a decrease in motivation and academic performance.

Ways to deal with technological difficulties:

1. Troubleshooting basic technical problems on our own.
2. Seeking help from IT support or technical experts.
3. Updating devices and software as needed.
4. Develop a backup plan in case of unexpected technology issues, like a secondary device or alternative internet connection
5. Taking regular breaks from technology, practicing mindfulness, and setting healthy boundaries around technology use.

15. Lack of Sleep

Students may struggle to get enough sleep due to stress, academic workload, social activities, and late-night studying. This leads to daytime drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and bad grades. It impacts a student's physical and mental health, causing fatigue, irritability, and a weakened immune system.

Ways to tackle lack of sleep:

1. Setting a consistent sleep schedule
2. Avoiding caffeine and electronics before bed
3. Creating a comfortable sleeping environment.

How can problems at school impact Mental Health?

School can be a complex and competitive environment, and the problems that students face here have a major impact on their well being. We will delve deeper into understanding how these problems impact mental health. It is crucial to help students receive the support and resources they need to perform well in school. 

• Academic and social challenges can cause stress, anxiety, and depression in students.
• Struggling with coursework leads to frustration and low self-esteem.
• Social problems such as feeling left out or struggling to make friends can leave students feeling alone, disconnected, and lacking in self-confidence.
• Unaddressed mental health concerns can escalate and impact a student's ability to function in their daily life.
• It interferes with a student's ability to concentrate and sleep.
• These challenges can worsen the student's stress and anxiety levels, which can create a cycle that is difficult to overcome.

Though attending college is filled with many pleasant memories, the truth is that there are a lot of challenging times in the beginning. We tried to help you out with the solutions to problems faced by students in school. Every issue has a solution, which is not a big deal anyway! Therefore, whenever you face a challenging situation, avoid letting anger and resentment dominate; always look at the bigger picture and conquer your problems.