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A phenomenological investigation of challenges and coping mechanisms associated with the transition from high school to university
(2009) Molapisi, Adelaide Tsholofelo; Thwala, J.D.
While entering the university is often a wonderful experience to a number of students, to some students it is very a challenging exposure to a degree where they even end up discontinuing their studies. This study was concerned with the challenges and coping mechanisms that students used as they were confronted by the university environment. The purposive sample of ten students was selected from the University of Zululand student population and they volunteered participation in the study. The research findings of this study indicated that many students found entering the university very challenging, as the environment there was experienced as impersonal, demanding, competitive and directionless. The aim of the research study was to investigate students' experiences in association with the transition from high school to university and to identify mechanisms that they used to handle the transition in question.