Why is the transition to university so difficult?

Recent data from Statistics Canada show only 74% of undergraduate students graduate within 6 years. Persistence rates also decline over time, falling from 87.8% after first year to 81.7% by the end of year two. While transfers and changing enrolment explain part of the early drop, a significant number are still failing to complete their degrees.

The numbers vary according to province and Universities. Within British Columbia, UBC boasts a graduation rate of 82%, while Simon Fraser sits at 67.8%. Why are the numbers so high? 

Finances and personal circumstances are a key factor. First Generation students, (those who are the first in their family to attend university), First Nation and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are less likely to graduate. Financial pressures are well documented in their contribution to university dropouts. However, research from Western University found 40% of dropouts do so after receiving their initial grades, with many expecting significantly higher grades than those they obtained. The research found that working hard had little impact on student success, with a conclusion that some students felt they simply were not suited to academic life. 

So why do so many students find the transition to university so difficult? 

Rising Academic Demands

The move to university represents a significant increase in the depth of subject knowledge. Students must grapple with more complex, abstract ideas while also developing higher-level skills in analysis and evaluation. Written papers now focus on critical analysis of arguments, rather than simply presenting knowledge. Lower order skills of description and application become less important. Furthermore, the workloads increase, with more assignments, longer papers and more testing compared to high school. 

The Shift to Independent Learning

High schools provide a lot of structure to direct study. Homework is split up into smaller, manageable tasks, with shorter deadlines and an army of teachers chasing students and setting reminders. At university, deadlines seem distant, and lecturers will not chase you for work - especially on courses with large cohorts. 

Access to support is more limited. Your favourite high school teacher who stays behind after class to talk through theories or clarify learning isn’t there, and students are expected to figure it out themselves. The number of international students attending Canadian universities has dramatically dropped since 2024 resulting in significant funding shortfalls. The University of Fraser Valley recently revealed a $20 million short fall, to be made up by reducing 45 faculty and support staff. With all Universities facing funding pressures, support for students will become stretched. 

Lack of Direction

The very best students have a clear sense of purpose in their studies. They’re able to connect individual tasks to a big picture, with a reason for why they’re doing it. A student who is on a personal mission to improve health care for children in BC has a clear justification for why they’re in the library late on a Tuesday. A student whose goal in high school is to gain a place at university, soon finds they have little direction or drive once the assignment deadlines approach. 

Gaps in Academic Preparation

In the United Kingdom, acceptance to universities is dependent on A-Level grades. One of the benefits of a standardized system, in theory, students who have achieved required grades for a university course, have certain proficiencies in skills and knowledge for the course. There is a certain level of effort, work and study to gain top grades. In a non-standardized system, a student in one school achieving top grades could be working at a mid-level in a different school or district. This creates big problems for university admissions. 

Within BC, while still high, PISA scores in Math have plummeted 42 points over 20 years. Using PISA data, BC students aged 15 are 2 years behind in math compared to 15 year olds from 20 years ago. In Science and Reading proficiency, today’s students are one year behind those in 2003. BC is no longer the top ranked province in Canada, losing ground to other provinces. 

What is the impact on students? Those who are not as well prepared face playing catching as soon as they reach university. Unfortunately, for a number of these students, they don’t make it beyond their second year, or they opt for easier courses. 

The Change in Lifestyle

For all students, the transition to university represents a significant shift into adulthood. The familiar high school routines, built up from primary school, are long gone. Your friends and classmates move to other parts of the country, and you’re soon adjusting to new social groups. For some, there’s also a move away from parents and families to live independently. University students become fully responsible for their routines and living. There are no parents telling you to get to that 9am lecture or to the library for the afternoon to work on an upcoming assignment. 

So what’s the take away here? The move from high school to university is not just an academic transition, it’s a huge social and cultural shift. As educators, are we doing enough to prepare young people for this change, and what can we do to ensure 25% of students obtain their degrees within 6 years?