Unfortunately studying and being great at exams isn't the key to getting through ATC training you actually require aptitude and no amount of hard work can create that if it isn't already there.
Also you will have little time for family , fiancé's etc whilst studying so I would say to anyone if you don't have to bring family with you don't it isn't necessarily conducive to the way college studying is best carried out.
It was a long while since I went through but as Yahoo said some of the best studying was done in groups and is why communal living can be an asset. We worked hard and played hard.
One of the reason why other colleges may get a higher pass rate could be because Ex Military controllers are going through them so they have prior experience?