Gambaran College Student Adjustment pada Mahasiswa yang Merantau di Luar Negeri

Abstract

An individual's life after completing high school will be an option for him to continue his studies in college. Individuals who are in emerging adulthood (aged 18-25 years). One of the most important decisions individuals make is to choose to pursue higher education. Although Indonesia has many quality universities, more and more people are choosing to study abroad, driven by the superior quality of education, varied scholarships, and valuable international experience. As a migrant student, you will be faced with challenges and obstacles. This study was conducted by collecting data through an online questionnaire containing open-ended questions to 101 participants and analyzing the data qualitatively with MAXQDA 2024 software to categorize answers based on influencing factors of college student adjustment. Based on the results of the study, the biggest challenges experienced by participants include academic pressure and differences in the education system, difficulty socializing with new people, and the dominant feeling of homesickness. The adjustment strategies used include getting used to differences, increasing learning motivation, making friends and interacting with local residents, and being active in campus organizations. Family support through communication is also the main way to overcome homesickness.