A Qualitative Study on Experiences of Overcoming Academic Probation and Winning Long-term Academic Achievements in College Students

This study aimed to explore experiences of overcoming difficulties and winning academic achievements in college students who had been placed under academic probation by analyzing the effects of such successful experiences on their maintaining long-term academic achievements. As research subjects, this study selected 12 students from colleges located in Daejeon Metropolitan City, Sejong City or Incheon Metropolitan City, who had experienced being placed under academic probation and overcoming it, and conducted in-depth interviews with them and thematic analysis afterwards. According to the research results, it was found that the research subjects’ main causes of academic probation were academic demotivation, lack of interest in their majors, difficulty in time management, and college environment maladjustment, etc. To overcome their academic probation, they participated in learning support programs to enhance their self-directed learning ability, tried hard to improve their study habits, and even made the best use of social support resources. After overcoming academic probation, they found it necessary to conduct constant self-management and self-monitoring in order to sustain self-directed study habits. Lastly, based on the research results, this study discussed practical support measures to help academic probation-placed students adjust to their learning environments and win academic achievements.