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A Comparison of First-Year International Students' Adjustment to College at the Undergraduate and Graduate Level

Authors

  • Dr. Odunola Oyeniyi University of Central Arkansas http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4701-7120
  • Dr. Robert Smith Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
  • Dr. Joshua Watson Texas A&M Univeristy-Corpus Christi
  • Dr. Kristina Nelson Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jcihe.v13i2.2584

Keywords:

acculturative stress, college adjustment, international students, relational skills, resilience

Abstract

Predictors of first-year undergraduate and graduate international students’ adjustment to college were examined using an online survey in 2019. The research sample consisted of 95 international students attending two universities in the United States. Findings showed a statistically significant difference between first-year graduate and undergraduate international students, as related to college adjustment. Further analysis discovered significant relationships among the predictor variables - resilience, relational skills, acculturative stress - and the criterion variable, which is adjustment to college, explaining 55% of the variance. Implications of findings for educators, college counselors, and college administrators, are provided, as well as directions for future research.

Author Biographies

  • Dr. Odunola Oyeniyi, University of Central Arkansas

    Dr. Odunola Oyeniyi is an Assistant Professor of School Counseling in the Department of Leadership Studies at University of Central Arkansas.

  • Dr. Robert Smith, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

    Dr. Robert L. Smith is Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, as well as Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Counselor Education.

  • Dr. Joshua Watson, Texas A&M Univeristy-Corpus Christi

    Dr. Robert L. Smith is Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

  • Dr. Kristina Nelson, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

    Dr. Kristina Nelson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. 

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2021-05-05

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A Comparison of First-Year International Students’ Adjustment to College at the Undergraduate and Graduate Level. (2021). Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, 13(2), 112-131. https://doi.org/10.32674/jcihe.v13i2.2584