Surviving First Year

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday February 7, 2006

COURTNEY TRENWITH

THE first year of tertiary education is tough.

Each year, up to 14 per cent of University of Wollongong (UOW) students drop out in the first 12 months.

At TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute, the attrition rate for 2004 was 6.8 per cent.

Both institutions had low attrition rates compared with the national and state averages, but they still represented hundreds of students who struggled to settle into university or TAFE.

The reasons for attrition included a greater responsibility for independent learning, increased financial responsibility, and moving away from home.

According to a report by the Australian Council for Educational Research released in September last year, that first year of study was a "significant transition point" that "may affect the development of attitudes towards continuing learning at tertiary education and beyond".

TAFE counsellor Glenn Fairweather said counsellors were always available to discuss first-year issues with students, and they were usually booked out each day.

"We encourage students to take up those services as much as possible to overcome any new difficulties they have when they commence their course," Mr Fairweather said.

TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL OR WORK TO STUDY

University and TAFE can be new worlds for first-year students who were not acquainted with the large grounds, complex timetables and different teaching environments.

The greater freedom could also often negatively affect some students.

Similarly, returning to study after a period of working can demand a lot of self-discipline.

Jess Difford took a year off after school before starting Certificate IV in Hospitality Supervision at TAFE.

She found returning to study difficult because she only wanted to have fun.

"When you leave school and you go into TAFE to study it's a lot freer than school so you just run amok with your mates," Jess, from Thirroul, said.

"It was hard for me to settle down and stick with TAFE. I just wanted to have fun."

Although she managed to complete the certificate, Jess left TAFE at the end of the year and gave up her opportunity to gain more qualifications.

But now aged 22, Jess will return to TAFE this year.

Mr Fairweather helped her make the decision.

He said students received information about counselling services at TAFE when they enrolled and counsellors endeavoured to address each class during the first few weeks of the semester.

"Counsellors (offer) career information and guidance, as well as helping them overcome any personal issues that are affecting them," he said.

UOW aimed to provide a smooth start to university by running an orientation week during the week before classes start.

Orientation weeks have become synonymous with the first year of university, providing students with the opportunity to meet new friends, learn about available services, orientate themselves with the university and have a fun start to their tertiary education.

UOW deputy vice-chancellor (academic) Professor Rob Castle said parent information evenings were also held during O-Week.

INDEPENDENT LEARNING

Many young people loved their new-found freedom and lack of teacher supervision at university and TAFE, while for others it could be their downfall, with heavy workloads demanding self-discipline and motivation.

According to research commissioned last year by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), 41 per cent of first-year students believed the standard of work expected at university was much higher than they had anticipated.

"It certainly can be a big change for many students, though I think increasingly high schools are aware of the need to prepare students for that transition," UOW counsellor Darien Midwinter said.

"A real problem for many students is just the very simple one of procrastination.

"You need to get organised early and work steadily throughout the session. It's a big mistake to leave everything to the last minute. Staying up late and cramming for the last few weeks of term is a seriously bad experience and bad for your health."

UOW ran a free peer assisted study session (PASS) program to help 1000 first- and second-year students who were studying subjects with traditionally high failure rates.

Students who excelled in the subject in a previous year were employed to help guide the newest group.

The number of failing students dropped by up to 15 per cent in some subjects since PASS was introduced.

Ms Midwinter recommended students also make use of the free planner charts given out during Orientation Week, to plan for assessment due dates and exams, as well as including time for relaxation and physical activity.

"We also suggest to students who are finding it hard to avoid procrastination to ask themselves 'why am I studying? what's my personal goal?' (and to) write that in big letters on top of the planner," Ms Midwinter said.

MOVING AWAY FROM HOME

For thousands of students, particularly those who live in regional areas, following a dream meant moving away from home.

More than 1200 UOW students live on campus at a range of residential complexes.

Thousands more, including TAFE students, rented in the city.

Alex Carroll was 18 when he had to pack up and leave his family and friends in Albury, near the Victorian border, to move to Wollongong to study civil engineering.

Without a car, Alex was forced to travel to Sydney and fly home.

That means he's only been home three times, but that's all part of the excitement, according to Alex.

"(At first), it was very different, you're outside of your comfort zone for a little bit, but that was a lot of fun," he said.

Alex admits he misses his friends back home, but he's never been homesick.

Alex said it was easy to get distracted living with other young people, and that was probably the most difficult thing about living out of home.

Ms Midwinter said it took many people up to six months to settle into a new environment, particularly for people from small communities.

While it was good to keep in contact with family and friends back home, students also needed to establish a network of new friends.

Learning to share a home with other people could also be a challenge.

"Make sure everyone understands and agrees to the house rules right from the start," Ms Midwinter advised.

"Don't let interpersonal tensions fester. Try and sort out arguments as they arise (and) try and be considerate of other people. (Also), resist the temptation to party, party, party all the time. That can be a bit of a downfall for a lot of students."

MANAGING FINANCIAL ISSUES

Many young people experience their first real financial obligations when they start university or TAFE and it can be a stressful time.

About 32 per cent of first-year full-time university students rely on part-time work as their main source of income and 3 per cent rely on full-time work, according to DEST.

More than half of working students work for between six and 15 hours a week and 27 per cent work more than 16 hours.

More than half of employed students "believe that paid work interferes at least moderately with their academic performance, 9 per cent say it interferes severely and 48 per cent moderately", according to the DEST survey.

Jess Difford said work commitments had a big effect on her decision to leave TAFE.

She worked 30 to 40 hours per week at an RSL club on top of up to 30 hours of classes at TAFE.

"Study and work was so full on," Jess said. "I'd have to go to TAFE then leave TAFE to start a shift. It was crazy."

Meanwhile, Alex Carroll knew he was fortunate to have the financial support of his parents while he was at university.

"I think the biggest problems people run into coming (to university) straight from high school are financial," Alex said.

"You've got to have a support team, whether it's your parents or an older brother or sister to financially support you."

On top of the educational impact, there was the risk of falling into debt. Half of 18 to 24-year-olds experienced serious personal debt or know someone who had, according to the NSW Office of Fair Trading, which conducted a report on youth debt in 2003.

Both UOW and TAFE offer help with budgeting and UOW had a short-term loan service for small and serious cases.

Top tips

? Talk to uni or TAFE counsellors.

? Talk to student mentors.

? Use planner charts to organise your workload.

? Schedule relaxation and physical activity.

? Moderate your partying.

? Set goals.

? Establish a support network of friends and family.

? Balance study and paid-work commitments.

? Budgeting help is available from UOW, TAFE, the Illawarra Legal Centre and Salvation Army.

Why students drop out

? Lack of self-discipline.

? Not prepared for high standard of work.

? Procrastination.

? Too many parties.

First-year tertiary drop-out rates graph not available on the database

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

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