Thesis
The transition to college: perspectives on the role of orientation
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2012
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100890
Abstract
Given the importance of success during the first year of college, it is imperative that institutions understand how students experience the programs designed to help them transition to college. This qualitative study describes the experience that current college students have in pre-college orientation and how it shapes their transition to college. The study gathered information through interviews with students and orientation staff and a document analysis of related institutional documents. Overall, the findings indicate students had low expectations for orientation and were often disengaged during sessions, but left feeling excited about starting school. The students formed solid relationships with others, including their student orientation leader, and were comforted that they would recognize a few people when returning to start the semester in the fall. When speaking about their transition to college, they had minimal difficulty navigating the campus, but struggled to adjust socially and academically. Based on the themes that emerged from the study, recommendations include adding an informative online module for students to complete before coming to campus for orientation, continuing the use of peer leaders, utilizing interactive sessions, and focusing the orientation curriculum more on the developmental transition to college and less on campus specific information.
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Details
- Title
- The transition to college
- Creators
- Karen Metzner
- Contributors
- Kelly Ward (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Education, College of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525296601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis