When you come to University
Part of the continuum
Many changes Structure Feedback Level of achievement Accommodation Independence
Learning the unwritten rules
Structure
For many students, coming to University is a move away from a controlled environment towards independence
Feedback
Students are probably used to regular and detailed feedback
From their teachers And from their family
Achievement
Students may well have been the most able amongst their peers
There is a uniform anxiety about how well they will perform compared to their new peers
Accommodation
Most students will either be away from home for the first time
Or they will be balancing their new found independence with their old family circumstances
Independence
They will be realising that they are at the threshold of facing the world on their own
And now they have to start learning the unwritten rules
For some
For others
Bordieu
Bernstein
Land
Wenger
becoming
boundaries
community
The real issue
Stress…
865kg
Lazarus and Folkman 1984
Actually it is about transition
Jorge Simones, afterKubler-Ross 1969
enjoy
Less than usual No more than usual Rather more than usual
More than usual0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Over the past few weeks, have you been able to enjoy your day-to-day activities?
No
Yes
strain
Less than usual No more than usual
Rather more than usual
More than usual0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Have you felt constantly under strain over the past few weeks?
No
Yes
Overcome
Less than usual No more than usual
Rather more than usual
More than usual0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Have you felt that you couldn't oversome your difficulties?
No
Yes
Cope
Never Occasionally Often Always0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Do you ever feel unable to cope as a result of studying medicine?
Comprehensive/state
Grammar
Public (fee paying)
There is some really interesting data – and some strategies – from Dr. Enatescu, Timisoara which we will discuss in the workshop
But what is our model?
Why?