Supporting high-achieving college students can sometimes be overlooked. High achievers, like any other student group, face unique challenges that require thoughtful support. In this post, we’ll explore why high-achieving students need strategic advising, examine some of the hurdles they face, and share strategies advisors can use to ensure these students thrive.
Why High-Achieving Students Need Support
Research shows that high-achieving students face specific pressures and challenges that can impact their well-being and academic success. For example, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that high-achieving students often experience heightened stress and anxiety due to a constant need to meet high standards and maintain scholarships and honors statuses. In addition, a 2020 report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness noted that over 30% of high-achieving students reported feeling overwhelmed by their academic load, fearing that even a minor misstep could harm their future aspirations.
These students also tend to receive less advising attention because they’re perceived as self-sufficient and capable of navigating college independently. This "overlooked achiever" phenomenon can leave high achievers feeling unsupported and isolated, especially if they lack guidance on opportunities for growth or risk becoming complacent without encouragement to push their boundaries further. High-quality academic advice can mitigate these issues, helping high achievers not only maintain their performance but also reach new heights.
Strategies for Supporting High-Achieving Students
1. Encourage Self-Exploration and Personal Goals
High achievers often focus on conventional success metrics—grades, accolades, and extracurricular roles. Advising them to set personal SMART goals that go beyond academics can foster a well-rounded sense of achievement. Help these students identify areas of passion and personal growth that align with but extend beyond their current success trajectory. Self-exploration can lead to fulfilling pursuits that enhance their college experience. For example, an advisor can use worksheets to unlock an exciting trajectory.
2. Guide Them Towards Competitive Opportunities
High-achieving students benefit from a challenge, and advisors can play a crucial role in guiding them toward competitive opportunities such as internships, research fellowships, and scholarship applications. Studies have shown that students who engage in high-impact practices, like research projects or study abroad programs, report greater satisfaction and a deeper sense of belonging on campus.
3. Provide Career and Grad School Planning Support Early On
For many high-achieving students, post-graduation goals such as entering graduate school or securing a competitive job are primary motivators. Advisors should provide detailed, proactive support in exploring graduate programs, connecting students to relevant faculty, or helping them understand the competitive landscape of their desired careers. For instance, advising high-achievers on networking opportunities, prestigious internships, or skills-building workshops early in their college journey can make a difference in their post-college success.
4. Address Perfectionism and Risk Aversion
High achievers often struggle with perfectionism, which can lead to stress, burnout, and risk aversion. Research has shown that while high-achieving students excel under pressure, they also suffer from the fear of failure, which can limit their willingness to take intellectual risks. Advisors should create a space where these students feel comfortable discussing their fears and doubts. Techniques such as resilience training, goal reframing, or mindfulness practices can help mitigate the harmful effects of perfectionism.
5. Promote Mental Health and Well-Being Resources
High-achieving students often face high levels of stress and pressure to maintain their standards, which can negatively impact their mental health. Advisors should be prepared to discuss mental health openly and destigmatize the idea of seeking support. Pointing students toward counseling services, peer support groups, and wellness programs can encourage them to prioritize their well-being alongside their academic pursuits.
6. Encourage Leadership and Mentorship Opportunities
High achievers are often eager to contribute and lead. Encouraging these students to take on leadership roles within student organizations, peer tutoring, or mentorship programs can provide them with a sense of purpose while helping them develop critical leadership and interpersonal skills.
7. Encourage Exploration Beyond Academics
Many high-achieving students may feel pressured to focus narrowly on academics, neglecting other enriching experiences. Advisors can encourage these students to explore orgs, club sports, or artistic pursuits that interest them. This broadens their college experience and prevents burnout, creating a more balanced approach to college life that supports their long-term development.
8. Develop Individualized Plans
Advisors can offer customized guidance by working with high-achieving students to set personal, academic, and career SMART goals. Establishing a learning plan that includes rigorous academic challenges, such as honors classes or independent research projects, allows advisors to support these students’ unique ambitions. Individualized plans keep students engaged by offering an appropriate level of challenge and clear steps toward their goals.
Conclusion
High-achieving students, while often seen as self-reliant, face unique pressures and challenges that require a different kind of advising approach. By understanding the unique needs of these students and implementing these tailored strategies, advisors can provide high achievers with the support they need to thrive. An advisor’s guidance can help high achievers not only reach their goals but also expand them, cultivating a fulfilling college experience that nurtures both their intellectual growth and well-being. In a supportive, welcoming, warm, inquiry-based advising environment, high achievers are empowered to excel—both in college and beyond.
