Importance of Social Skills in Transition to University

1201QBT Academic and Professional Skills
Development
STUDENT NAME: _________________ STUDENT ID: ________
ESSAY PLAN
 Complete your 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: The estimation of the associate factors of the academic
performances has long been a researched topic in the psychological studies. College
students are faced with various types of academic stresses. Saklofske et al. (2012), on the
other hand have argued that attributes like life skills, self-awareness and self-confidence,
decision making and the problem solving skills, time management, learning styles,
presentation skills, the examination and test writing and the social survival skills helps in the
survival of the students after the transition (Saklofske et al., 2012). This argument has
provided the rationale for researching about the validity of the argument, whether
academic skills or social and life skills are important to cope up with transition to
universities.
Definition of key term(s): Social skills: Social skills are the sense of self awareness, to accept
other cultures, to control their own emotions, establishing good interpersonal relationship.

Academic skills: Academic skills involve study skills, digital capabilities, critical thinking skills,
and presentation and exam skills.
Argument:
It will be argued that as per the researches, development of social skills and individual
qualities are more significant than that of academic skills for academic success while
transitioning in universities.
Body paragraph 1
Topic Sentence: The purpose of the study is to understand the relationship between the
various study skills and the academic performances of the university students.
Your ideas and references / evidence from the sources you found:
As per this study the study skills are necessary to enhance the academic performances of
university students- Time management: Time management has been referred to as the set
of techniques for management, designing and using appropriate time. Concentration and
memory- Academic success require constant working memory that would help in the
storage and the manipulation of the information in the brain. High levels of cognitive
abilities like problem solving, reasoning and learning are responsible for the academic
performance. According to Hassanbeigi et al. (2011), skills like study aids and the pervasive
nature of reviewing of notes is an important part of the college learning. Hence the ability of
notes taking also attributes to academic performance. Motivation is one of the most
important factor that helps in education. According to Saklofske et al.(2012), academic
success is strongly predisposed by person’s differences in achievement and motivation.
Organising and processing information has also been regarded as a quality for developing
academic skills. This study has mainly focussed on the academic skills rather than the social
skills in successful integration in a new environment (Hassanbeigi et al. 2011).
Body paragraph 2
Topic Sentence: Thriving or just surviving? Exploring student strategies for a smoother transition
to university. A Practice Report
This paper described the strategies that are required for a smoother transition to the
universities. According to Richardson et al. (2012), expansion of the social circles and
interaction with others enhances the personal growth of the children. While discussing
about the involvement of the social activity, the international students have found it difficult
to cope up with the transition as they have felt that they felt absence of close peers. Mental
health is another factor that is being affected due to transition and change in their mentality
has helped them to thrive better in university ambiences. The ability to cope up with the
stress were also explored in the students undergoing transition. In order to balance the
personal life, commitments and the studies, some students have recommended not to pile
up work to be done afterwards or personal records can be maintained in order to balance