Help or Hindrance? The Role of Secondary Schools in a Successful Transition to University

Abstract

The transition from secondary school to postsecondary education poses numerous challenges for first-year university students. Two hundred and fifty second-year students attending a small Canadian university were surveyed regarding the ease or difficulty with which they adjusted, in the previous year, to the next phase in their formal education. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis revealed that in attempting to assist their seniors to meet the academic requirements necessary for university admission, secondary schools may inadvertently be preventing a significant minority of students from making a smooth transition to tertiary education. Specifically, participants cited the difficulty in adjusting to a reduced level of support from their instructors as well as an increased requirement to engage in independent study as being especially problematic.