ERIC Number: ED599613
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 194
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-4388-6814-4
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The University Journey of STEM Transfer Students
Rich, Nancy
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Florida Atlantic University
The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the feelings and experiences of state college transfer STEM students regarding transfer from the state college to the university. The 25 participants in this study were asked to describe their feelings about the transfer process. Data were gathered from the interviews and from a review of short journals and documents. It was hoped that the experiences of successful transfer students would help illustrate the feelings present when these STEM transfer students enter the university as juniors and compete with native juniors or juniors who began their collegiate experiences as freshmen at the university. Each participant had varied experiences and feelings from the experience. There was no one process that each student traveled through. Findings included: financial influences on decision-making, inconsistencies in advising causing anxieties, hands on learning impacts persistence, negative connotations for transfer students, class size vii impacts difficulty, the importance of university transfer orientation, and areas in need of improvement. During participant interviews, the issue of finance and budgeting was the most prevalent topic. Participants found that their state college advisors did not always understand their intended career paths causing confusion and anxiety. They valued hands on experiences provided by state college professors who encouraged them to continue their education. The increased class size at the university was disconcerting to many study participants. At the state college professors had open-door policies for students with questions or in need of extra assistance with course materials. Participants felt that the classification of transfer student had some negative connotations at the university. Students were reluctant to be singled out as state college transfer students. In addition, transfer orientation was viewed by older participants as demeaning. Participants were asked about changes they would make in the transfer process. The link programs seemed to be under promoted. A database for immigration information was suggested. Participants also suggested changes to transfer student orientation. This study was limited to 25 successful transfer students. The results should not be generalized to a larger population, but instead provide ideas for future policy discussions and research. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: STEM Education, State Universities, College Transfer Students, Student Attitudes, Student Experience, School Orientation, Anxiety, Academic Advising, Teacher Student Relationship, Class Size, Experiential Learning, Academic Persistence, Labeling (of Persons), Student Characteristics, Money Management
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A