Supporting Students’ Transition to Higher Education

Zoë Pither

The best years of your life!vs

I wish I’d known…

Where things areThe libraryHomesicknessWhere to go shoppingWhere to go outWhere not to goClubs and societiesOngoing health

problemsFaith groupsCookingFinanceMental healthLeaving homeStaying at home

Long distance relationships

Academic work

Making friends

Accommodation problems

Help with dyslexia

Managing time

Organisation skills

Budgeting

Which books to buy

Disability support

Communal living

Independent study

Social life

Work/life balance

Referencing essays

Personal tutors

Getting to know the city

Who to talk to

Getting ill

Culture shock

Freshers flu

Part-time work

Fitting in

Sports & fitness

When does ‘transition’ start?

• Thinking about choosing HE courses?

• UCAS application?

• Offered a place?

• Accepted a place?

• Confirmation?

• Arrival at HEI?

Transition Curve

The ‘W’ CurveStages of re-adjustment

3 rules for dealing with change

Rule 1 – everyone is different

Rule 2 – everyone is different

Rule 3 – everyone is different

Preparation for transition

• Encourage students to understand the process of transition and change

• Reflect on changes they have experienced so far• What went well? • What was difficult?• Start awareness raising• Encourage research into the support available• Promote independence But…• It’s normal to ask for help!

Support Services

Personal Tutors Student Health Service

Accommodation Office Careers Service

Hall tutors and staff Counselling Service

Skills Development Student Funding

Peer Support

Access Unit

International Students’ Advisory Service

Start early

• Support services are available to students from the start (sometimes earlier)

• Disabled students and those with ongoing health issues can contact the university they are applying to before an Open Day to discuss support needs

• Some peer support schemes start before arrival

I wish I’d known…

Unconscious Incompetence

Conscious Incompetence

Conscious Competence

Unconscious Competence

Surviving Freshers’ Week

• The best week of your life?• Information overload• Accommodation worries• Making friends• Social whirl• Staying healthy• Fresher's fairs – clubs and societies• Help is at hand

Becoming Independent• It’s all about balance

• Budgeting• Eating well• Health• Socialising• Sleep

• Communal life• Domestic• Tolerance• Communication• Problem solving• Dealing with

disagreements

Becoming Independent

• New ways of learning• Independent study doesn’t mean no help

• New relationships with ‘teachers’

• Collaborative learning

• Time management

• Organisation skills

• Increase awareness of own learning styles

• Make use of study skills support

More help…

• Student life presentations

• Student ambassadors

• UCAS – Getting in Getting on

• University websites