Difficulties that the Early Adult faces when Transitioning from High School to College

Question:

What are some of the difficulties that the early adult faces when transitioning from high school to college? Also, discuss the cognitive and social developments of early adults in their college years. This is something we have all experienced, if you feel comfortable, please share some of you own experiences.

Answer:
One of the major difficulties experienced during the transition from high school to college is the process of identity exploration which takes place during a time of instability and change in our immediate surroundings - school, love relationship and perhaps work for some college students. Other difficulties include top dog phenomenon and adaptation to a larger, more impersonal school structure and peers with greater geographical, cultural and ethical backgrounds, experience even more intensive competition in school work.


It is not uncommon to hear that college students feel depressed, overwhelmed and mentally exhausted. The most common stressors in their lives include grades and competition, career and future success, intimate relationship, finances, parental conflicts and roommate problems.


In terms of cognitive developments, early adults are more realistic and pragmatic in their thinking. Their understanding of the world gradually move away from absolutist to reflective, relativistic thinking. That is they are more open to diverse opinions and learn that there is not necessarily absolute right or wrong in the world.


Piaget’s theory of formal operational thought is the final cognitive stage, which characterizes both adolescents and adults. Some theorists suggest a new stage of postformal thought, which characterizes adults’ understanding of how situational factors and emotions can influence thinking. For instance, a solution optimal for the same problem in one situation may not be applicable to the same problem in another situation. However, it is still in debate as to whether this postformal stage is qualitatively more advanced than the formal operational stage.


In terms of my own experience, my college life was relatively stress-free. I was not so much overwhelmed by study. It felt like something big was ahead of me. The age of possibility was more a key theme of my college life than identity exploration. I was relatively late in developing Piaget’s formal operational stage in terms of reflective and relativistic thinking. I believe this is due to my encounter of a lot of the challenges in social development came after my college life, such as roommate conflicts, finances parental conflicts, etc.

Further Question:
What is the process in moving from a absolutist to reflective style of thinking? Do they wake up and find they are reflective? No, so lets talk about how that actually happens to go from an absolute right or wrong (also known as black and white thinking) thought process to a more open and diverse way of thinking as Michelle so wonderfully stated.

Answer 2:
Emerging adults are processing so much all at once. Moving to college is a huge learning curve in so many levels. I can eat at the cafeteria as many french fries as I want, however, I will pay the price by my clothes not fitting by Christmas break. I can pull as many all nighters as I want, wear what I want, and essentially hang out with who I want. College students are being reminded of the consequences of their behaviour and they are needing to make decisions for themselves not just because they have adopted what significant others have said.

During this stage the emerging adult is testing out their particular world view, as they meet others they are starting to recognize their worldview is subjective. They are meeting people who think differently than they do, they are being challenged with what they thought to be correct. The level of education emerging adults achieve especially influences how they will maximize cognitive potential.


Answer 3:
The process is a very steep learning curve. It does not jump from a stage of absolutist thinking to realistic, relativistic thinking. As early adults are thrust into a world full of new people and new things to learn, they are forced to adapt fast, through trial and error, to transform into understanding the world with realistic expectations, this is part of the adaptive thinking and behavior that adults need to learn in order to fit in the bigger society.

Question for all:
Discuss "Trial and Error", that is a large part of the learning process.