The sophomore experience at Rowan University from the perspective of selected sophomores

The primary purpose of this study was to better understand the needs of sophomores at Rowan University through interviewing five purposefully selected sophomore students at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, in the spring semester, 2008. The study investigated the experiences of selected sophomores in the classroom, outside of the classroom, and with identity and self concept that contributed to student success at Rowan University. Data were collected by means of three interviews with each participant. The interviews took place throughout the spring semester one in January, one in February, and one in March. The instruments used to collect the data consisted of nine questions each. The interviews focused on allowing students to tell their stories and lived experience through describing events in their sophomore year. The interviews lasted approximately 45 minutes each. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Data analysis suggests that selected sophomores have both beneficial and challenging experiences in and out of the classroom during their sophomore year. It was reported that sophomore students are in different places in their identity development and that Rowan University could be doing more to support sophomore students