Enhancing the Transition: Support Strategies for Students Re enrolling from Undergraduate to Graduate Studies at Their Alma Mater

A Neglected Transition: The Students Who Stay

Each academic year, a number of senior undergraduates choose to re-enroll at their alma mater for graduate education. Facilitating this transition can greatly enhance the sense of belonging among these learners.

By Ashley Mowreader

Transitioning into graduate school presents distinct challenges even for students who continue their studies at the institution where they received their bachelor's degree. This is highlighted by recent research conducted by Seth M. Fishman, Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Assessment and Associate Professor of Education at Villanova University. Through interviews with current graduate students from a liberal arts university in the northeastern United States, Fishman elucidated that many students often overestimate how smoothly this next phase of postsecondary education will proceed.

Fishman's research reveals several common challenges encountered by returning students:

1. Isolation and Disorientation: Students who re-enroll at their alma mater sometimes assume they'll seamlessly transition back into the academic community due to their previous experiences there, which may lead to overconfidence bias. Instead, these learners often feel more isolated or behind compared to their peers. This heightened sense of isolation is mnly due to the absence of familiar faces and encounters with lower-level students who might inquire about their graduation status.

2. Routine Disruption: The typical campus routine changes significantly between undergraduate and graduate life, which can be confusing for returning students. For instance, while some students may have spent considerable time in the library or engaged in research during their first few years of college, they are more likely to utilize academic resources such as presentation labs or writing centers later on.

3. Underestimation of Differences: Students frequently underestimate just how different graduate life will be from their undergraduate experience. Returning students could benefit from student panels during orientation, mentorship initiatives that pr returning students with peers also pursuing an academic encore, or a structured guide that helps them navigate these anticipated differences early on in the semester.

The following are some practical suggestions for university staff and faculty to facilitate this transition:

1. Treat It Like New: Encourage new academic year traditions like participation in orientation sessions and pre-semester activities even if students already feel familiar with campus life. These events help set clear expectations and ease into their studies effectively.

2. Leverage Academic Supports: Remind students to visit the library, use research facilities, and take advantage of resources such as presentation labs that they might have underutilized earlier in their academic journey.

3. Engage Beyond Classrooms: Promote community involvement by connecting returning students with existing campus organizations or facilitating interactions through networking events specifically designed for graduate students from all disciplines.

Seeking stories from campus leaders, faculty members, and staff can provide valuable insights into how to better support student parents and foster a more inclusive learning environment. By implementing these strategies, universities can enhance the transition experience of students who choose to stay on at their alma mater for further studies.

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This version mntn the original article's tone while enhancing and adapting some phrasing for a more formal academic . The focus is on providing comprehensive guidance that complements the , and insights for students transitioning into their graduate studies at the same institution where they completed their undergraduate degrees.
This article is reproduced from: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/college-experience/2024/09/04/supporting-grad-students-studying-their-alma

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