Transition to University

 Moving to university is a huge change, and adjusting to all the new aspects can be both scary and exciting. To make sure you’re prepared, here are some top tips to help, you’ll find just about everything you need to know to make your transition go smoothly! 

Educational transition to university 

Many people say that there is a large difference between secondary school education and university and state that many students are unable to cope with the jump between the two types of education (Thompson et al., 2021).  Some of the differences in terms of academia between secondary school education and university is that studying at university allows you to gain a much wider understanding of the topic being taught due to many journals being read whereas secondary school education does not teach these skills (Hermida, 2009). Thompson et al’s (2021) study shows that there is also a much greater demand for the students to complete the work without being spoon-fed by teachers and academic staff. However, there is no need to worry as if you manage your time well, you will also have time to spend with your friends, doing different activities in different societies and sports clubs, and socialising.  

Taking care of your mental health

The transition to university is a substantial change and can take a toll on your mental health. It's important to take care of your mental wellbeing and know where to get help if you need it. Studies have shown that to generally improve this transition you need to manage your expectations as a student and normalise the wellbeing issues that we all experience (Cage et al., 2021). It’s common to feel down and anxious when starting university, and adjusting to this change can be daunting. A study reported that 91.8% of students reported feeling stressed at university (Brett et al., 2022). A top tip is to establish a routine and having a few things you routinely do can help calm you down in the midst of the chaos and change. Become familiar with your university’s wellbeing services as they are there to help when you are feeling overwhelmed.  

 

https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/mental-health-disorder-illustration_3226219.htm 

 

Socialising at University  

Many students often find the social aspects of university daunting in the beginning; for many it is their first encounter with people outside of their school friendship groups and away from family and friends. However, studies have found that a strong social connection significantly correlated with university adjustment, suggesting that friendships are a main influence on your experience at university (Buote et al., 2007). To adjust to the new social dynamics, try to stay open minded and make small talk wherever you can. Furthermore, joining societies or clubs to find people with similar interests to you will help you form friendships as well, as suggested by Laursen (2017) who emphasised common interests as being a crucial factor in making lasting friendships. 

 

Living out

The transition to university can be even more stressful with the addition of opting to live away from home, which is supported by Fisher and Hood’s (1987) study looking at the effect of homesickness on students’ psychological wellbeing. It was found that students who were more homesick from living out were more likely to suffer from cognitive failure and psychological stress (Fisher & Hood, 1987). Holdsworth (2006) suggests that residential status is a major factor in determining how well students feel they adapt to university. This suggests that moving out can have various advantages to the experience of university that students may have. However, Barker and Galambos (2006) discovered that students were three times more likely to report unhealthy eating habits if they lived away from home. This research highlights the challenge of transitioning to university, and the toll it can take on young adults who are learning to live by themselves. However, a key tip to help ease the difficulty of this transition is for students to talk to people in their shared accommodation and make friends who they can talk to in order to relieve some of the stress they may be feeling. 

To conclude, moving to university brings lots of changes to your life, but with good organisation skills to balance your education, social life and mental wellbeing, you will soon find a new routine, settle in well and enjoy university.

References:

 Barker, E. T., & Galambos, N. L. (2006). Body dissatisfaction, living away from parents, and poor social adjustment predict binge eating symptoms in young women making the transition to University. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(7), 904–911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-006-9134-6  

 Brett, C. E., Mathieson, M. L., & Rowley, A. M. (2022). Determinants of wellbeing in university students: The role of residential status, stress, loneliness, resilience, and sense of coherence. Current Psychology, 42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03125-8 

Buote, V. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., Adams, G., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., Polivy, J., & Wintre, M. G. (2007). The importance of friends: Friendship and adjustment among 1st-year university students. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(6), 665-689                                                 https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558407306344 

Cage, E., Jones, E., Ryan, G., Hughes, G., & Spanner, L. (2021). Student mental health and transitions into, through and out of university: student and staff perspectives. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(8), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2021.1875203 

Fisher, S., & Hood, B. (1987). The stress of the transition to university: A longitudinal study of Psychological Disturbance, absent‐mindedness and vulnerability to homesickness. British Journal of Psychology, 78(4), 425–441. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1987.tb02260.x  

Hermida, J. (2009). The Importance of Teaching Academic Reading Skills in First-Year University Courses. The International Journal of Research and Review, 3, 20-30. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1419247 

Holdsworth, C. (2006). ‘don’t you think you’re missing out, living at home?’ student experiences and residential transitions. The Sociological Review, 54(3), 495–519. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954x.2006.00627.x  

Laursen, B. (2017). Making and Keeping Friends: The Importance of Being Similar. Child Development Perspectives, 11(4), 282-289.        https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12246 

‌Thompson, M., Pawson, C., & Evans, B. (2021). Navigating entry into higher education: the transition to independent learning and living. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45 (10), 1398-1410.           https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1933400