Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Yıldız Journal of Educational Research, cilt.8, sa.1, ss.11-27, 2023 (Hakemli Dergi)
This is qualitative study aiming to examine the experiences of university students regarding
the adaptation process to the university. 30 university students participated in the study. The
data for the study were obtained through semi-structured interviews. According to the results
of the study, it is the experiences before the university education that increase the adaptation of the students to the university environment such as career adaptability, educational background, social environment, social skills, openness to experience, parental influence, social
activities, knowing the city, and having a different city experience. The experiences before the
university education that increase students’ adaptation to the university environment include
personality traits, social skills, and participation in social activities. Factors originating from
the university are social activities, physical facilities, the quality of faculty members, the quality
of education, the richness of experience, the quality of the student environment and deep-rooted history. However, the experiences of the students before the university education reduce
the adaptation to the university environment such as leaving the family, the education system,
city, personality traits, career incompatibility, social life changes, transportation difficulties,
limited job opportunities, living with family, and bullying. Factors that reduce students’ adaptation to the university environment such as lack of motivation, academic failure, personality
traits, expectations, future anxiety, health problems, and low self-perception. Factors originating from the university that reduce adaptation to the university environment such as systemic
problems, limited opportunities, physical location, course content, and quality of the cafeteria. Students used resources such as social support, personality traits, problem solving skills, positive perspective, and social activities while to cope with incompatibility. While students
express the gains of university education as self-development, a social environment, different
perspectives, knowledge, social skills, recognizing different cultures, and diplom, they state
that university education loses time, effort, motivation, money, mental health, a social environment and family ties.