Snakes master

FEELING LFET OUT

“I felt that being a middle-class mature

student did not help my integration into

student life – I felt that my experience and

knowledge put me on a different footing from

other students”1

CHANGE OF MIND

“I simply realised that I had chosen the wrong field to study.” 1

STRUGGLING TO MAKE FRIENDS

“I find it hard to find a group of friends and I

can’t just presume people want to be friends

with me…” 6

STAFF – STUDENT

INTERACTION

“A lot is to do with getting on with tutors and

knowing what makes them tick….”7

SOURCE:

1. Yorke, M. & Longden, B. (2008) The First Year Experience of Higher Education in the UK (York: The

Higher Education Academy)

2. Yorke, M. (1999) Leaving Early. Undergraduate Non-completion in Higher Education (London &

Philadelphia: Falmer Press)

3. Crosling, G., Thomas, L. & Heagney, M. (2008) Improving Student Retention in Higher Education,

(Abingdon: Routledge)

4. Feedback from University of Greenwich students over the period 2009-2012, captured at events

including world cafes, Freshers Fairs and New Arrivals surveys.

5. Influences on student early departure as described by University of Greenwich Student Centre staff.

6. Beard, C., Clegg, S. & Smith, K. (2007), ‘Acknowledging the affective in higher education’, British

Education Research Journal, 33:2, 235-252.

7. Bowl, M. (2003) Non-traditional entrants to Higher Education, (London: Trentham Bks)

SOURCE:








including world cafes, Fresher’s Fairs and New Arrivals surveys.





SOURCE:








including world cafes, Fresher’s Fairs and New Arrivals surveys.





1

1

MONEY PROBLEMS

“I spent all my money too quickly and on the

wrong things… This contributed to my work

slipping…..”2

NOT CONFIDENT IN GROUPS

“Tutorials had 25+ students only enabling the very self-confident to dominate the proceedings.” 2

UNMET EXPECTATIONS

“The course was totally different to the explanation in the prospectus.”2

STUDENT MINDSET “There is a big jump from spoon-fed secondary

school to university. A lot of students are in the

wrong mind-set when they arrive and never seem to

escape it.”4

STAFF ATTITUDES / WORKLOADS

“...tutors were never around to help, and

when they were, they were very unhelpful....”1

QUALITY OF TEACHING

“It was very difficult and the course content

was not explained before I embarked on it.”2

COURSES NOT RELEVANT

“There were too many subjects within the

course that had no relevance to (industry)”2

LACKING STUDY SKILLS

“….When you take notes you forget when they

are saying. When you go back to your notes

you wonder what you have written down….”3

SOURCE:













SOURCE:













SOURCE:













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LACK OF MOTIVATION

“I felt I had arrived at university because it was

the easiest option and ….. expected of me. I

wasn’t passionate about it.” 2

PROBLEMS WITH ACADEMIC WRITING

“I know what I want to say but I don’t have the

right language to say it”.4

CHALLENGED BY CRITICAL THINKING

“I don’t know what tutors mean when they

say.... ‘write a critique – be more analytical –

use your judgement’”4

UNEXPECTED WORKLOAD

“I knew there’d be a lot of work involved, but I

didn’t expect that much work. It was also of a

much higher standard than I expected.”1

GRADES NOT IMPROVING

I don’t understand how to get better grades or

what my feedback really means”.4

ISOLATION

“I felt overwhelmed by the size of the

university – like a small fish in a big pond. I felt

isolated and scared.....”2

DIFFICULTY FINDING HELP

“No matter who you turned to, or where you

seeked (sic) someone’s aid, they seemed to be

busy.”1

ADAPTING TO INDEPENDENT STUDY

“I had completed an access course where the

staff knew me….. At university this wasn’t the case

and...I couldn’t cope with the workload without

tutorial support”.1

QUALITY OF FEEDBACK ON WORK

“There was some work that I felt I was doing enough in but I wasn’t really get the marks for it. Most of the class agreed they weren’t getting a clear indication as to what was required….”3

PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES

“….when it came to it, I had to put my family first which meant leaving the course.”1

UNFAMILIAR CULTURE

“I don’t know the culture here....I need some help.” 4

TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES

“It took me over 2 hours to get to university that along with a part time job…made it impossible to do both. I had to keep my job due to financial reasons…which affected my grades.1

HOMESICK

“I miss my friends and their ability to know

what I’m thinking without me saying

anything.” 6

HOMELESS “I have nowhere to live at the moment. I am

sleeping at a friend’s but I don’t think I can

stay very long. What can I do?” 5

UNDIAGNOSED DISABILITY

“I think I might be dyslexic” 5

LATE ARRIVAL

“I arrived late and everyone seems to have

made friends already.” 5

STAFF – STUDENT INTERACTION

“A lot is to do with getting on with the tutors and knowing what makes them tick….”7

Activity developed by Educational Development Unit & the UG-FLEX project at

the University of Greenwich.

http://www2.gre.ac.uk/about/schools/eddev

www.gre.ac.uk/ils/ugflex

http://www2.gre.ac.uk/about/schools/eddev

http://www.gre.ac.uk/ils/ugflex