Importance of Social and Academic Skills in Achieving Academic Success during Transition to University

This essay discusses the importance of social and academic skills in achieving academic success during the transition from college to university. It analyzes the factors affecting student's decision for early leaving from university and provides evidence from various studies.

1201QBT Academic and Professional Skills Development
STUDENT NAME: __STEVEN FAN_______________ STUDENT ID:
___FANSD1801_____
ESSAY PLAN
 Completeyour Essay Plan, print and bring it to your tutorial OR write into the Word
copy. Obtain feedback from your teacher. (5%)
 When you have received feedback on your essay plan, write ONE body paragraph. (5%)
Topic First year university students often claim that good academic skills will lead
them to academic success. However, research suggests that social skills and
personal attributes have a significant influence on how well students cope
with the challenges of transition to university. Discuss.
Required Reading Richardson, A., King, S., Garrett, R., & Wrench, A. (2012). Thriving or just
surviving? Exploring student strategies for a smoother transition to university. A
practice report. The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education,
3(2), 87-93. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com
Introduction
Background information: For the psychological researchers, one of the prime topics of research
interest is ascertaining the associated factors that underlying the academic success of the students.
Transition from college level to university level of education is associated with several changes. The
first change is increase in academic criticality, study pressure, performance pressure and other
associated activities like dissertation preparation and assignment preparation (Bewick, Koutsopoulou,
Miles, Slaa & Barkham, 2010). Among this high academic pressure there are other changes too, like
change in the internal academic environment, change in the friend circle, change in need from life,
tension to succeed in life and to have established career, change in decision making skills, social
survival skills and problem solving skills (Bewick et al., 2010). The following essay aims to provide a
comparative analysis of whether good academic skills or social skills promotes academic success or
combination of both is essential for all the students who are now passing through the college to
university level transition. The main argument will be based on the study conducted by Richardson et
al. (2012).
Definition of key term(s): The key terms used in the study of Richardson et al. (2012) include
social skills and academic skills. Both this terms will act as two important variables in this
argumentative essay. According to Richardson et al. (2012), social skill is defined as a set of skills
that encompass sense of self awareness, acceptance of others cultural values, having control over
personal emotions and establishment of good interpersonal relationships. Academic skill is defined as
set of skill that mainly involves study skill, digital capability, critical thinking skills, writing skills
presentation skills and ability to perform under academic pressure.
Argument:

It will be argued that whether social skills and personal skills are more important that academic skills
in order to achieve academic success during the transition phase of the college students to the
university level.
Body paragraph 1
Topic Sentence: The purpose of this essay is the factors affecting student’s decision for early
leaving from university
Your ideas and references / evidence from the sources you found:
The study conducted by Glogowska, Young and Lockyer (2007), highlighted that study skills are
importance to increase the overall academic performance of the university students and thereby
increasing retention. Important study skills include time management, working on the memory power,
revising and taking notes. Glogowska, Young and Lockyer (2007) is of the opinion that proper practice
of the academic skills helps in the achievement of the academic success and this success in the
academic domain helps to gain confidence and mental strength which promotes smooth college to
university level transition and increases the retention rate among the students in the university. At the
end, Glogowska, Young and Lockyer (2007) recommended increase support from the students from
the teachers for the improvement of retention.
Body paragraph 2
Topic Sentence: Thriving or just surviving? Exploring student strategies for a smoother
transition to university. A Practice Report
Your ideas and references / evidence from the sources you found:
The study conducted by Richardson et al. (2012) highlighted that the students who are in the first year
of their university level education pass through a significant transition phase. It is the time when they
are required to learn academic skills along with social and independent living skills. Proper practising
of academic and social skills helps the student to balance the competing demand of in the academic
career along with handling other turmoils in their personal life. Proper balance in the personal and the
professional life helps in the maintenance of health and well-being which further increases the overall
academic performance. The comparative study conducted by Richardson et al. (2012) between
“thriving” and “just surviving” students at the university level showed that the “thriving students are
more socially, emotionally and intellectually engage with the university level curriculum. Whereas,
“just surviving” students are more isolated and overwhelmed. Richardson et al. (2012) finally
concluded that the non-academic skills like interpersonal skills and social relationships and coping
strategies and stress management are as important as academic skills and help in successful
integration into the new environment of the university.
Body paragraph 3
Topic Sentence: Understanding student’s transition phase to the university on the basis of
prevailing social, personal and environmental surroundings
Your ideas and references / evidence from the sources you found:
The study conducted by Leslie et al., (1999) initiates via describing the challenges faced by the
students during their transition from the college to the university level. The mismatch between the pre-
transfer aspiration of the students and the reality creates the problems in coping up with the changing
environment. This change increases stress among the students compelling then to become victim of
drug abuse and lack of proper physical activity further increases the harm. The paper suggests that
apart from good academic and social skills proper support coming from the university teachers and
the senior students is also helpful in achieving the academic success under the changing

environment. This assistance and support must come in the form of establishment of collaborative
environment when new joinees will be welcomed and will be assisted in each step in order to
overcome hurdles. Other interactive approaches like debates or social programs will help to increase
the effective relationships between the professors, seniors and the newly enrolled students. This will
not only promote effective communication and the intrapersonal skills but will also promote an
adaptive environment for smooth transition while ensuring academic success.
Conclusion
Thus from the above discussion obtained from the analysis of the three papers it can be concluded
that the both social and academic skills are important in order to achieve the academic success.
Moreover, proper assistance from the professors and the senior students under an interactive and
collaborative environment will help the newly enrolled university students to cope up with their
transition phase to new university environment along with achievement of the academic success.

Reference List
Bewick, B., Koutsopoulou, G., Miles, J., Slaa, E., & Barkham, M. (2010). Changes in undergraduate
students’ psychological well‐being as they progress through university. Studies in Higher
Education, 35(6), 633-645. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070903216643
Glogowska, M., Young, P., & Lockyer, L. (2007). Should I go or should I stay? A study of factors
influencing students' decisions on early leaving. Active Learning in Higher Education, 8(1),
63-77. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787407074115
Leslie, E., Owen, N., Salmon, J., Bauman, A., Sallis, J. F., & Lo, S. K. (1999). Insufficiently active
Australian college students: perceived personal, social, and environmental
influences. Preventive medicine, 28(1), 20-27. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1998.0375
Richardson, A., King, S., Garrett, R., & Wrench, A. (2012). Thriving or just surviving? Exploring
student strategies for a smoother transition to university. A Practice Report. Student
Success, 3(2), 87.