[the_svd_doctor]

In my EU country, lots of first year students are kind of lost and are picking their major more or less at random (or very unprepared). Very low passing rates in first year are very common. It gets better in 3rd year and after.

[StefanBatory]

Or as I've heard - in USA entrance is the hard part; in EU staying afloat during the first year is the hard part.

I certainly remember my first year being the hardest in term of rigour, and the others being more pleasant (still hard, though)