A Case Study of Second Year Student Persistence

Abstract

Most colleges/universities emphasize retention efforts during the first year. However, most campuses lose as many students through attrition from the second year to graduation as are lost from first to second year. Researchers at a major university in the mid-south studied second year students using a qualitative approach. A Conceptual Diagram of Issues, developed from the literature, guided the data collection and analysis. These included: Emotional and Personal Support; Commitment and Aspiration; Academic; and Financial. Eleven second-year students, representing various characteristics of the student population were interviewed. Major factors relating to attrition or persistence for second year students included: 1) adjustment to stress, 2) grade satisfaction, 3) time management, 4) financial management, and 5) stabilization of career choice.