STUDENTS AS EMERGING ADULTS: SECOND YEAR PARENT & FAMILY PROGRAMS The Second Year In terms of transition, there are many things going on for students as they navigate the second year of college that are significantly different than what is experienced during the first year. During the second year, students sometimes experience a “sophomore slump” which can be a time of dissatisfaction with the college environment and the self (Feldman & Newcomb, 1969). This is sometimes marked by students feeling as if the institution is not as supportive to their needs as they were previously, or as it is for current new college students. This “slump” can at times result in reduced motivation and or declining academic performance (Pattengale, 2000).
selected major and at times, sometimes causes students to reflect on whether to change their major. Also, for students who may still remain undeclared, pressure to declare a major or a course of study may exist; some of this pressure is created by students’ social circles, university policies, and individual pressure to determine a focus.
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For many students, the second year of college can be a time of intense reflection, considering their personal values and decisions as well as their identity and peer relationships. It isn’t unheard of for relationships to begin to change in a students’ second year, as they are no longer friends with others based off of While there are a multitude of convenience or proximity (living housing options on campus for the residence halls). Students now second year students, for students have to work toward maintaining who move off-campus, there can relationships with others, and at be unique challenges associated times the process of values with living independently for the clarification is related to this first time. These can include (but development of mature and are not limited to): learning how to meaningful interpersonal acquire basic life skills (paying relationships. bills, maintaining a clean living Additional challenges for students environment, working with While there are unique challenges during the second year can include landlords or leasing agents, living associated with the second year of entering an intensified curriculum with multiple roommates, etc.), college, this year provides the or a period in which academic and maintaining a sustained opportunity for students to difficulty increases as they begin connection to the CSU campus randomly explore, figure out what to take courses in their major. This community. It’s important for they are passionate about, and difficulty and/or exposure to students who move off-campus to truly reflect on their purpose and courses in their major may cause find and maintain a connection to how they are beginning to make second year students to reflect on CSU instead of just arriving for meaning out of their college their fit or interest with their class and then leaving to return experience.