"I Am So Glad I'm in This Class:" Transition Experiences of First-Year Seminar Students With Significant Early College Credit

Higher education has seen an increase in first-year students who arrive with significant early college credit. There is a gap in research about how first-year seminars meet the transition needs of students with college-level experience obtained during high school. This qualitative study, guided by Schlossberg's (1989) transition theory, explored the role of a mandatory first-year seminar on the transition experiences of students with significant early college credit. Focus groups revealed that participants went through a relatively smooth transition because they had familiarity with college-level expectations and study skills. On the other hand, they experienced difficulties due to the academic rigor of upper division coursework in the first year of college and the need for advanced decision making, such as in career choice, because graduation was imminent. The firstyear seminar requirement provided instructor support, campus integration, and sense of community for the unique transition needs of students with significant early college credit.