INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE
This main purpose of this report was to investigate major challenges faced by the first
year USP students and how this challenges hinders their academic performance and
also how it affects individual’s personal life. Different challenges different age group
faced and some of the recommendation that can be made to minimize this challenges.

BACKGROUND
In spite of the several researches done by usp to identify this problem and overcome
them, there is still a number of students still facing these problems every year. Some of
them are not even aware of the help centers usp provides. USP has counselors who
talk to students and address these problems, usp also have “first year student survey”
every year to deal with challenges hindering student’s performance.

THESIS STATEMENT
This report will discuss the principal challenges first year students’ face, effects it has on
their lives and recommendation on how these challenges can be encountered.

METHODOLGY
QUESTIONNAIRE;
To attain maximum information on the challenges university students face in their first
year of study. A questionnaire was designed and distributed equally between males and
females from different region and age group. Upon collection of the questionnaire, it
was categorized according to the similar problems faced and then the questions were
analyzed in a report. A copy of the questionnaires is attached in the appendix.

RESEARCH
Library and online research was also conducted to gather additional information on the
topic as it is a global relatable topic.

RESULTS
 challenges faced by usp students
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local young students local mature students regional young students Regional mature students

financial assignment computer skills food

The graph above illustrates different type of challenges faced by local and regional
students varying with their age group. Some of the challenges stated by them were
financial, assignment, computer and food.

effects of the challenges on the students mental and physical health

depression low grades low self esteem school dropout

This figure shows the effects of the challenges on student’s mental and physical health,

which shows a majority of student end up in depression following up with low grades.
 students who were aware of counselling servives.

no yes

This figures shows number of students who were actually aware of the help sessions

usp provides, but the results show that majority of the students were not aware of it.

p e r c e n t a g e o f s t u d e n t s r e sp o n s e o n l o w a c a d e m i c
grades
local youngsters local senior
regional senior regional young students

This figure demonstrates the percentage of local young students and local senior

affected student’s grade compared with the regional young students and regional senior

students.
 DISSCUSSION

Tertiary education is the final state of the learning journey. However it has been

recognized has a very challenging state for majority of the students, especially for the

first year usp students. Some of the challenges that were encountered by the first year

students are: firstly financial difficulties, finance is a common challenges between local

and regional young students as they do not receive enough money from there sponsors

and others cannot manage money wisely. On the other hand it doesn’t seem to be a

problem for senior students has they already have done saving before continuing their

studies. Secondly assignments seem to be a general problem for everyone in general

as it was stated by the respondents that the time given for the assignment is either not

enough or the assignment is not understandable.

Thirdly, computing skills, is very important tool in usp because assignment and learning

are done through moodle, and this a problem found in the senior generation as they are

not really familiar with the computer. Lastly, regional students has also that

discrimination and food has also become a challenge for them has they are

discriminated for the language they speak and their skin color has been a barrier in

communicating with the local students and tutors. Some of the regional students also

stated that they miss the food they use to get back home as they now have to stick to

rice, since dalo is very expensive.

Moving on, this challenge has a great impact on the student’s mental and physical

health. Firstly, mental health, students have stated in going under depression and some
also have low self-esteem and end up thinking that they are good for nothing. Secondly,

physically, it has shown on their low grades. Due to some financial problems some girls

has ended up in part time prostitution as she stated that she did not wanted to pressure

her poor parents for money back home. Other students who were not able to coup up

with the pressure have decided to leave school.

Furthermore, these challenges can be minimized only if usp provides awareness of the

services it provides students to overcome this problem because the service is already

provided it is just that the students are not aware of it and others are scared to go as

they do not want to be assumed as fools.

CONCLUSION
To conclude it can be said that first year tertiary student’s face a lot of challenges, such

as financial challenge, lack of computing skills for the senior students and sometimes
regional students face discrimination for their language and skin color which makes it

difficult to communicate and socialize with other students and tutors. Some also stated

that they miss the food and memories that they shared back at home.

Moving on, this challenges have a huge impact on the student’s mental and physical

health. Some students go and depression and some turn to have low self-esteem on the

other hand some physical effects are that they turn to have low grades and sometimes

even quit school.

Moreover, to minimize those challenges and its impact on students, usp should provide

more awareness that students know where to go in times like this. Usp should also have

different student counsel for regional students so that they feel free to talk to someone

of their own and chances of misunderstanding is less.