Academic procrastination

While academic procrastination is not a special type of procrastination, procrastination is thought to be particularly prevalent in the academic setting, where students are required to meet deadlines for assignments and tests in an environment full of events and activities which compete for the students' time and attention. More specifically, a 1992 study showed that "52% of surveyed students indicated having a moderate to high need for help concerning procrastination".

The situation is worse at the graduate level, where the conditions are perfect for procrastination—intangible mental work with flexible deadlines and unclear goals. Instructors have coined the term ABD students (All-But-Dissertation) for people who especially susceptible to academic procrastination.

Some students struggle with procrastination due to a lack of time management or study skills, stress, or feeling overwhelmed with their work. Students can also struggle with procrastination for medical reasons such as ADD/ADHD or a learning disorder such as dyslexia.

Teachers, guidance counselors, and others in school administration should be trained to address these issues when they arise, and many colleges and universities offer classes, coaching, and tutoring in study skills for students who are struggling with procrastination or a learning disorder. Students with ADD or learning disorders often qualify for special considerations such as increased time for test-taking.

It is not known how often a severe case of procrastination caused by a mental health problem may fail to be noticed when the person is in an academic context, because it is merely categorized as "academic procrastination".

Web articles

 * Overcoming Procrastination: Getting Organized to Complete the Dissertation; by Tara L. Kuther, PhD.
 * The 3 P's: Perfectionism, Procrastination, and . . . Paralysis by Gina J. Hiatt, Ph.D.