How to Succeed in College Or University Tips on Adapting to Academic Culture

Acculturation is the process in which a person adapts to a new culture by adopting the beliefs and behaviors of that culture. The faster and more effectively a person can adapt to a new culture, the more likely he or she is to feel accepted and relaxed.Academic acculturation happens when students adapt to the post-secondary environment by adopting the customs of a tradition of a higher learning institution that dates back to the ancient Greeks.If you think about a new culture, ideas about language, behavior, customs and dress, among other things, probably come to mind. You don’t have to agree with all aspects of the new culture. For example, you may believe that women shouldn’t have to cover their heads. Yet, if you go to a place where it is customary for women to do this, then women who travel there fit in much better if they do. The point is not to judge the beliefs of the new culture as being good or bad, but rather to adapt for the purposes of fitting in. Adopting and honoring the customs of the new culture demonstrates your respect for it. Whether or not you agree with a custom is different from whether or not you choose to adopt it. Your success in a new culture may depend on how well you can adapt to it.If you look at the post-secondary institution as a new culture, you can apply the same principles as if you are traveling to a new country. If you honor and respect the customs of the institution, even if you don’t personally agree with them, you are more likely to be accepted and successful in your environment.Universities are institutions of formal learning. So if you are in doubt about how to act, opt for a more formal approach over a less formal approach. Don’t overdo it, or you will look ridiculous. But adding the slightest touch of formality to your language, behavior and dress can make an incredible difference to your success in a formal learning institution. You may not agree with the traditions of formality, or customs that may seem outdated and stuffy. The point is that by learning and adapting to the customs of the environment, you’re more likely to be accepted and even protected and helped by the senior members of the culture, which in this case would be your professors. Win their respect and you are likely to achieve success in the academic setting. For example:LanguageUniversities (and to some extent, colleges) are based on an old European model that dates back to Greek and Roman times. As a result, the language of the academy is full of words that have Greek and Latin roots, such as:Greek-root words:problem
theory
criticism
hypothesis
academic, academyLatin-root words:process, procedure
cognitive, cognition
study, studious
objective, objectivityWhen speaking and writing in the post-secondary environment, try to choose words of Greek or Latin origin. Providing you’ve chosen the right word to convey your meaning, you’ll sound more academic. Fluency in academic language will set you above those who do not respect the linguistic traditions of higher education.BehaviorLearning how to behave in a new culture is tricky. You want to be yourself and at the same time, you want to fit in. In an academic environment behaviors that will help you fit in are:Inquisitiveness – Express curiosity about what you are learning when you are talking to your professors. An inquisitive attitude, evidenced by you asking intelligent questions, shows you are curious. You win points for that.Attention – Falling asleep in class, doing computer work or texting when the instructor is talking and staring off into space are all signs that you are not paying attention. Your instructors will notice. Focus your attention on what’s happening in class. Even if you’re not really into it, fake it if you need to. Just stay engaged.DressScholars are not known for their fashion sense. Having said that, there is a tradition of conservative dress among academics. While this doesn’t mean that you need to go out and buy a tweed jacket and a pair of Birkenstocks (unless you like that look), it does mean that opting for more conservative clothing choices for class, meetings with professors and group presentations will help you fit in and seem more academic. Adding a sports jacket or blazer to an outfit adds a touch of formality that will meet with approval in an academic setting.CustomsAddress your instructors by their title (e.g. Professor Smith or Doctor Smith) unless they invite you to do otherwise. Start e-mail correspondence with “Dear…”, not “Hi” or “Hey”. Don’t use excessively formal language or you’ll sound completely pretentious, but dialing up the formality just a notch can help you win respect and develop good rapport with professors in an academic setting.Citation for this article: Eaton, Sarah Elaine (2 October 2010). “Academic Acculturation: A Success Strategy for Post-Secondary Students.” Retrieved from: EzineArticles.com