Special aspects of the adaptation process dynamics for the first year students at the university: first examination session

the results of the social-psychological study held at Petrozavodsk State University in 2015−2016 and aimed at finding the adaptation success and problems for the first year students in the course of their first examination session are presented in the article. The nine characteristics (markers) of the adaptation process were investigated, namely: information activity, adaptation in the academic group and learning activity, self-evaluation of adaptability, evaluation of different forms of taking exams, emotional status, the need for support from the university staff. The questionnaire method (total 265 students at the 14 faculties and chairs with selection more than 15 % of total number of the first year students), and also comparative and correlation analysis were used. The data were processed with the help of the SPSS statistical software. The comparative data for the faculties of arts, technical faculties, and faculties of natural sciences were obtained. The research results showed that after the first semester of studies the students are mostly satisfied with their adaptation process at the university (93 %), only 5,4 % students estimate themselves as non-adaptable, and 14 % students felt the lack of support. According to the marker of emotional status up to 27 % students could be referred to the group of non-adaptable ones. In general, students are adapted in the academic group and in the learning activities. Still, they experience some problems in communica-tion with each other and with the faculty. The information activity is decreased during the first ex-amination session. The study of emotional experience connected with the educational process showed that it is not easy for the most part of the first year students to cope with the stressful situa-tion of the new examination format. The data obtained in the course of the investigation might be taken into account while working with senior pupils and university students within the general and higher systems of education.