Retrospective Assessment and Proposals for the Adaptation of the First Year Students

Abstract

The process of studying at the university requires a freshman to be independent and active, although many freshmen are not prepared for it. We consider several sets of problems associated with the adaptation of the first year students: learning difficulties, difficulties in communication, the starting level (school background), self-organization, fears, and personal adjustment. Based on the analysis of materials from an applied sociological study, the authors conclude that adaptation to the educational process at the university proceeds faster for students with following characteristics: satisfied with their student life, interested in studying, living an active life, informed about the university before entering it, guided by recommendations of relatives or friends, previously enrolled in this university. The original research is based on students’ self-assessment. The students make an attempt to assess their own adaptation problems in the first year of study by the second and the third year students. The novelty of the study is to consider the attitudes of students as subjects of the educational process, who are able to independently comprehend the problems of adaptation to the educational process at the university in the first year of study, their own strategies for overcoming difficulties. Another goal of the study is to present an organizational model for helping the first year students to adapt to the university education process as well as to consider opportunities for positive reflection in the process of adaptation to the educational process in the university. The research materials can be useful to educators, administrative staff of universities, psychologists, and freshmen’s parents. Keywords—adaptation of the first year students, difficulties of adaptation, problems of communication, satisfaction with studying, adaptation strategies, organizational model of assistance in adaptation of the first year students