A Study on Adaptation to College life According to the Characteristics of Freshmen : Focusing on the Case of a University in the K Region

This study aimed to analyze the differences in college life adaptation of local university freshmen by gender, admission type, region of origin, main commuting method, and future career aspirations. 484 questionnaires were collected from comprehensive universities in the K region, and 300 of them were used for analysis. College life adaptation consisted of five categories: emotional adaptation, social adaptation-competitive activities, academic adaptation, career adaptation, and environmental adaptation. The analysis results showed significant differences in college life adaptation by gender, region of origin, main commuting method, and future career aspirations. Overall, the level of college life adaptation of freshmen was good, and in particular, career adaptation and environmental adaptation were strong, while support for academic adaptation was necessary. In order for freshmen to successfully adapt, customized support and comprehensive support programs that take into account individual characteristics are necessary. In particular, support for vulnerable groups such as women, commuter students, international students, and students with unestablished career paths should be given priority. In addition, it is necessary to operate a basic academic ability supplementation program for students outside the metropolitan area, build a network for social adaptation, and activate a learning community. This study provides basic data for establishing a university life adaptation model that reflects the characteristics of regional universities and developing customized support programs.