EC Psychology and Psychiatry

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and understand the academic lived experience of freshman students in Haramaya University transitioning through freshman program and describing through their language and voices. The transcendental phenomenological design was employed and Schlossberg’s transition theory was used as a theoretical lens. Data were collected using in-depth interviews from eight purposely selected freshman completing regular students of the University. The finding of the study revealed that though the University environment is conducive and triggered achievement motivation in students, the students transitioned through the freshman program with serious challenges and doubts about the fit between their readiness and the academic demands of the program. Emotional stress of COVID 19, instability due to civil war in the country and shortness of academic schedule were identified as the major factors affecting the freshman students’ academic performance. It is concluded that under the current scenario in the University and the country at large the results obtained by students in the freshman program would not be a valid measure of students’ potential and to serve as a criteria for selection of field of study and placement of students into different faculties and study programs.

Keywords: Transition; Lived Experience; Academic Schedule; Freshman Program

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