Stages of Adjustment for New
Students
As you know, most of us adjust to new situations through a
series of personal stages. According to academic theorist Vincent
Tinto (1987), there are three stages of freshman adjustment to
college life:
Separation
First-year students distance themselves from membership in past
communities, homes, schools and work places. New students may go
through a process of questioning the values of previous communities
in order to adopt values perceived as appropriate to college.
Transition
This stage is a “bridge” between the old and the new. New students
may not yet be fully integrated into their new college environment.
They may be searching for a connection with their new environment
(norms, values, relationships). When the differences between the
old and new are extreme, adjustment might be more difficult.
Incorporation
First-year students become fully involved in the social and
academic communities at their new campus. They establish
connections with other students and professors, thereby avoiding
the risk of dropping out. Students enjoy success with the new
situations they encounter.