University 101 for High School Students

Freshman seminars, like University 101 at the University of South Carolina, have proven to be effective means of helping college students make successful transitions from high school to college. The current study is a pilot study of the effects of a modified University 101 course taken during the senior year of high school on students' subsequent adjustment to college. Students were randomly assigned to University 101 or to an introductory government and international studies course during their senior year of high school. Students from the same population who did not take a concurrent college course while in high school were selected for a control group. Quantitative and qualitative longitudinal data were analyzed to determine the influence of University 101 on students' "anticipatory socialization," grade point averages, persistence, and overall adjustment to college. Results of the study suggest that offering a modified University 101 course to high school seniors may be an effective means of preparing them for the transition to college.