What makes a first year college student successful?

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Freshman year, the year of many first; the first time living away from home, the first time being away from friends, the first time a student has control of their own learning. Freshman year requires a lot of discipline, but a lot of students do not possess this trait. The factors that contribute to the success of first year college students are social support, comfort within the college environment, self control,responsibiliy and positive self concept.

Being a college student could be very stressful; many students feel pressure from their family and peers to do well. The struggles of college; in academic, social, and economical factors, would be much harder without a support system. Encouragement of family members is a very important factor in a first year college student. One reason is because individuals seek praise from their family members and friends. If these people encourage the student to do well in all their courses, and then express approval when he or she does excel, then more than likely this student will continue to do well. According to studies of Hackman & Dysinger, a familys expectation may be as significant as a student’s own. Many graduates note that their parents assumed that they would graduate rather than just hoping. Students of educated parents are more likely to be motivated in college because of their understanding and encouragement.

Involvement in college is another way to receive social support. According to Astin, A. W, living on campus is the most effective way to be involved, when college students stay on campus; he or she is surrounded by individuals seeking similar goals, which is to succeed through education. This is where students are most likely to meet their friends, find study partne...

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Works Cited

Astin, A. W. (1996). Involvement in learning revisited: Lessons we have learned. Journal of College Student Development, 37, 123-134

Commitment to College as a Factor in Student Attrition, J. Richard Hackman and Wendell S. Dysinger ,Sociology of EducationVol. 43, No. 3 (Summer, 1970), pp. 311-324

(article consists of 14 pages), Published by: American Sociological AssociationStable URL:

http://www.jstor.org/stable/2112069

The Color of Success: African-American College Student Outcomes at Predominantly White and Historically Black Public Colleges and Universities

Allen, Walter R

Harvard Educational Review; Feb 1992; 62, 1; ProQuest Psychology Journals,pg. 26

Antonio, A.L. (2004). The influence of friendship groups on intellectual self-confidence and educational aspirations in college. Journal of Higher Education 75(4), 446-471.

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