The transition from high school to college: a qualitative study of the factors that influence this process and their possible behavioral consequences

Abstract

For many young people, joining the university is marked by a transition process characterized by several changes that both affect and influence their psychosocial - as well as their professional - development. This work aims to analyze the factors that have ultimately been influencing the student’s acclimation from high school up to his or her university life. Besides that, looked for identification of behavioral changes occurred because of this process of academic transition. The study was conducted through eight semi-structered interviews with students ranging from different courses. The collected data was analyzed using the approach of content analysis and categorized into two segments: a) Factors that have influenced the student’s adaptation on campus; b) Behavioral changes. The results highlighted seven (7) categories concentrated on a first block: Infrastructure; Information about the university and course; Factors external to the university; Organizational Aspects; Material of Study; Attachment and Professors — and four (4) categories concentrated on a second block: a) Personal aspects; b) Personal Planinng to the Studies; c) Time and d) Symptom. This work contributes to punctuate difficulties encountered by freshmen on campus and provide better understanding of the academic transition.