Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
4th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN), Barcelona, İspanya, 2 - 04 Temmuz 2012, ss.3461-3470
Attending university for the first time involves a stressful period of adaptation process in which students go through multiple and simultaneous changes (i.e., personal, social, academic). For successful college adjustment students need to cope with these changes and adapt to greater independence and responsibility both in their academic and personal lives. The present study aimed at exploring the college adjustment process of first year college students studying at a university in Northern Cyprus via qualitative investigation methods. 14 English Preparatory School students who are in their first year at the university constituted the participants of the study. Data was analyzed via Consensual Qualitative Research method. Over all findings indicated that during the 9 month period students experienced several social-personal and academic difficulties and frequently used active coping strategies in dealing with them. In this challenging times family and friends have become students' prime source of support. Students emphasized the facilitative role of having a supportive social network and similar previous life experiences in their adaptation process. Furthermore, they indicated that their first year experience contributed to their personal development.