Retaking exams or courses is common, but it tends to happen most often with first-year students, when they have not yet adapted to new study methods and lifestyle rhythms. Some students relax too much after years of intense study in high school to prepare for the university entrance exam, while others get caught up in the temptations of city life.

Once a math specialized student at Vinh University High School for the Gifted (Nghe An), T.T.A. said that during high school he studied 4-5 sessions per day, especially during university entrance exam preparation. 

With 26.1 points on high school finals, T.A was admitted to the Finance - Banking major at the University of Commerce.

Leaving the countryside for Hanoi for higher education, T.T.A. was attracted by the glamorous beauty and vibrant life of the capital. The male student used all free time to hang out with friends, explore, and eat out. He often returned home at 1-2am and had no time for study.

Living away from family, he gradually neglected studies. As a result, the student had to repeat two subjects and pay additional VND3.2 million in tuition, half a month's salary of his mother back home. 

"That was the first shock since starting university. I realized that freedom must come with responsibility; if you cannot control yourself, you will pay a heavy price," he shared.

M.V.Q., a second-year student at Hanoi National University of Education, also had to repeat three subjects in the first year. "Many friends, including me, fell asleep after our victory of passing the university entrance exam. If I had tried earlier, obtaining a scholarship would have been much easier," Q. said.

He explained that the main reason was failing to keep up with new study methods. Lecturers often teach very quickly, and students must read and understand the material on their own. Some courses covering an entire textbook were taught in just four morning sessions, and if students did not take the initiative, it would be impossible to keep up.

Nguyen Thao My, a final-year student at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, has never had to retake a course but has seen many classmates face this situation in their first year.

According to My, many students fall behind because of part-time jobs. “Some friends work 2–3 shifts a day, finishing at midnight and they are unable to wake up for morning classes. At first, they skip a few lessons, but it gradually becomes a habit, and eventually, they neglect studying altogether,” she said.

My believes that part-time work helps students mature, but without proper time management, it easily leads to exhaustion, dozing off in class, or missing exams. “Many students end up having to retake two or three subjects in their first year because of part-time jobs,” she added.

Critical thinking, research, and independence

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Manh Ha, an educational psychology expert from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, observed: “Many students who were ‘stars’ in high school lose their stride in university. The root cause lies in the fundamental change in the learning model, from a tightly controlled environment focused on memorization and reproduction to one that requires critical thinking, research, and independence.”

This shock can cause students to lose direction and motivation and struggle to adapt to the new way of learning. Those from gifted or top high schools are especially prone to an identity crisis when they no longer hold the top position as before.

“Many students used to equate their self-worth with perfect grades. When faced with low scores or failure, they start believing they’re no longer good enough. This leads to feelings of inferiority, procrastination, or avoidance as a self-defense mechanism,” he explained.

The expert added that not only high achievers but also students from rural or provincial areas face similar challenges. Moving from the countryside to a big city can cause culture shock due to changes in environment, study style, communication, and time management skills.

“Many work part-time to cover expenses while carrying heavy expectations from their families - to study well and change their lives. When difficulties arise, they hesitate to share for fear of being judged as weak. This double pressure easily leads to psychological overload, discouragement, and poor academic performance,” he said.

Thuy Nga