So you’ve got into university, and you think the hard graft is over. Sweating it out with all-nighters for your A-Levels is finally behind you, and now you’re all set for the Freshers experience: it’s going to be lots of parties, lots of time spent in clubs, and lots of takeaways, as you leave your parents’ rules behind, and embrace independent life.
You’ve seen the pictures of happy smiling students on your campus brochure. You’re excited about signing up to all the societies, going to the socials, and you’re looking forward to making new friends. You’re assuming you’ll spend time in the library when there’s a last-minute essay deadline (but not much studying otherwise), and predict enjoying the ‘best years’ of your life…but what happens if the much hyped marketing doesn’t fit with your university experience on arrival?
Last year 6 in 100 (6.3%) students in the UK dropped out of university in their first year (HESA, 2022). This statistic varies considerably from course to course, and university to university, with certain institutions seeing 37% of first year students leaving. In some cases it happens during the first semesters as a consequence of choosing a degree program based on incorrect motivations, or not having received adequate guidance before entering university. Other factors which come into play have much more to do with the personal aspects of the students themselves.
The data obtained from 10 US universities and 1,100 first-year students, suggests depression is one of the main reasons for university dropout, caused by the pressure to perform well both academically and in their extracurricular activities. The truth is there are multiple emotional, mental, and physical stressors at university which lead to depression, and this is not assisted by the level of expectation students have about what their university experience should look like.
Whilst we know there are direct links between the motivation of the student body and the academic performance of students. We also know having to meet the demands of university courses leads to situations of stress, anxiety, etc. directly affecting students’ academic performance, demotivating them, and causing them to feel negative and insecure, which ends up leading them to drop out of their studies. Taking care of motivation, self-esteem, student satisfaction, and satisfaction within your work and yourself are key to personal and emotional development, making them essential ingredients to keep students in university institutions until graduation.
As expected, we see from nationwide studies that graduating from university is related to GCSE attainment: around 20% of students with middling GCSE attainment (compared with the whole cohort) failing to complete a degree within four years, and at the other end of the scale, less than 5% of students with the highest GCSE attainment not completing their degrees within four years (UK DoE, 2022). A more reliable indicator for completing university than previous academic attainment levels is levels of support.
When using the Self-System Mode of Motivational Development (SSMMD) to look at the interrelationship between the support students have from their parents and teachers, and persistence and retention rates, we notice a strong correlation between those students lacking support and the decision to drop out of university. Support from family, teachers, and the institution itself is also often one of the reasons why students regain their motivation (even when they have academic difficulties), which reduces dropout levels in institutions.
So if you’re reading this and worrying about what it really takes to make it through to graduation, the answer is quite clear: don’t fret about the fact that you haven’t read the subject before, don’t obsess about your previous academic performance, and don’t assume that everyone’s university experience is the same. Instead, focus on keeping yourself connected, supported and well by leading a balanced life (with healthy meals, enough sleep, a realistic work routine, and doing stuff you enjoy), and reach out to get help as soon as you need it.