Systematic monitoring of the adjustment to university of undergraduates: A strategy for reducing withdrawal rates

The experience of students withdrawing from university in their first year is explored. The students' perceptions of the factors which influenced their withdrawal decisions are examined. The findings support the hypothesis that the main factor influencing withdrawal/persistence behaviour is the degree to which students can adjust to the new academic and social demands of the university environment. A departmental strategy for systematic monitoring of the adjustment to university of first-year undergraduates is outlined.