Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Hey, Jason, what’s wrong?

Student 2(male): Oh, hi, Carrie. I just got my report card for this semester. It isn’t exactly as good as I thought it would be. And I really studied hard this semester!

Student 1: Let me see. Oh!...They’re not so bad. I would be happy to have your grades in those classes. Are your grades good enough to keep financial aid?

Student 2: I hope so, but it’ll be really close. I think they’re border-line. What should I do? I always made perfect grades in high school. I thought my first semester of college would be the same.

Student 1: If I were you, I don’t think I’d take such hard classes my first year. If you’re most worried about your grades and keeping financial aid, take easier classes.

Student 2: I could take easier classes, but I want to challenge myself.

Student 1: Well, don’t challenge yourself right out of college! Maybe you could take fewer classes. That would give you more time to concentrate on the tougher classes.

Student 2: I could do that, I guess, but then I’d be in school longer than I’d hoped, and my financial aid only covers 4 years of school.

Student 1: You know, I had a friend in the same situation. She took a semester off to clear her head. When she came back, she was refreshed and ready to tackle anything. She also had a little extra money saved up from working.

Student 2: Hmm, I don’t know if I’d like that. Seems kinda drastic.

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question.

 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Answer

The man’s problem is that he didn’t make grades as good as he thought he would. In high school, he made perfect grades. Now he studied really hard, but still didn’t make good enough grades. The woman suggests that he take easier classes. I think it would be best to take easier classes. Maybe the man is still in the transition phase from high school to college. Of course college is harder, that is why less people go to college. The man expects too much from himself. I think it would be best for him to start out his college career with simpler classes and work his way up to harder classes. If he takes fewer classes, like he says, he would be in college for longer, and he would also have to pay for some of his schooling. Fewer classes would give him more time to concentrate on the harder classes that he would like to take, but if he takes easier classes, he could concentrate the same amount and get better grades all while graduating in four years.