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Major Issues for Students: An Overview

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Being a student myself this article was a bit easy for me to write. I also had to move out to a new city for further studies. Hence, I was able to relate to the survey responses. Students, whether living away from their house or living with their parents, face numerous challenges that impact their academic and personal lives. However, in this article, I have covered about the ten most common problems through a survey of around 50 students from various cities.  I have also tried to apply sociological theories wherever it was possible in order to understand the causes of these issues.

Students from diverse educational backgrounds, from undergraduate as well as from postgraduate levels, participated in this survey. Responses were collected via an online questionnaire, without mentioning their names in order to get honest responses.

One of the most significant problems is the academic challenges which affects the mental well being and the academic performance of the students. Our recent survey aimed to explore how students perceive their coursework, the curriculum’s difficulty, and the support they receive from professors and academic advisors. Majority of the respondents often feel overwhelmed by their coursework which shows a high level of academic stress. Around 25% of the students believe that their curriculum is too challenging.  Support from professors is very important in helping students with these challenges. However, not all students felt they get enough support however some were  satisfied on the other hand.

Balancing academic responsibilities with family expectations is also a very relevant issue for a student. Most of the students feel pressured by their families to excel academically according to the survey.  This pressure results in stress, affecting their mental health. Family support during academic challenges had amixed resposne, while 40% of students feel very supported the others receive varying levels of support from being moderately supported to not getting any support.

Family expectations also influence students’ social interactions. A significant number of respondents believed that their family pressure impact their social life and interactions with friends, while others reported a moderate impact. Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory looks at how power and inequality affect people’s lives and sees society as a competition for limited resources. When we look at family expectations with this theory, we see that wealthy families can afford tutoring or extracurricular activities, making it easier for their children to succeed. On the other hand, students from poorer families might feel more stress because they lack this support. This is in turn widens the existing social and economic gaps.

The practice of discrimination and prejudice are still common issues on many campuses. Through my survey, I have tried to understand how often students face these problems and how well their institutions handle them. According to the survey, 24.5% of students have faced discrimination or prejudice based on their race, gender, religion, or other identities. Some students shared their experiences, mentioning feeling unwelcome because of their dressing sense, knowledge level, or religious background. One student pointed out, “JMI being a minority institution, the demographic inherently is evident of the passive discrimination on the basis of Religion.” When asked about how well their institution handles discrimination only around 30% of the students felt that they handled these issues well. While 35% felt unsure, suggesting uncertainty.  

For many students, adjusting to a new cultural environment can be both exciting and challenging. My survey tells us how students handle these changes and how much support they receive from their institutions. A significant number of respondents described the adjustment to a new culture as very challenging, impacting their daily lives and emotional well-being. Furthermore, feelings of homesickness is also very common amongt 60% of students. In terms of institutional support, 40% of students felt supported in adapting to a new culture and on the other hand 60% expressed feeling unsupported.

Mental health is a critical aspect of student well-being, which influences the academic success and overall quality of life of a student or anyone. Most of the students experience stress and anxiety related to their studies nowadays. Around 55% of students reported experiencing stress or anxiety often or always due to their studies whic shows that due to the academic pressures the mental well-being among students deteriorates. Despite this, only 12% of respondents have sought mental health support services, suggesting potential barriers or stigma associated with seeking help. Furthermore, responses regarding the availability of mental health support vary widely. While 67% of students believe there is adequate mental health support on campus, 32% feel otherwise. This disparity shows the importance of improving accessibility and awareness of mental health resources to better meet the diverse needs of students. Emile Durkheim decribes the  Anomie Theory in simple words as a state of normlessness, disorder, or confusion when people feel disconnected from societal norms and values. When students face academic pressures without sufficient support, they may experience this normlessness. This disconnection results in increased mental strain and anxiety.

Social life is an important component of the college experience. Many students responded that they felt isolated or lonely at times which shows that loneliness is a significant issue for a student body affecting their academic performance and mental health. Participation in extracurricular activities can play a key role in decreasing the feeling of isolation. However, 74% of students do not engage in these activities, which results in more disconnectedness. In contrast, 26% who do participate in extracurriculars benefit from the social interactions and building networks. Only 40% of the students are satisfied with their social life on campus and the rest are dissatisfied or not bothered by it.  Pierre Bourdieu’s Social Capital Theory explains how social connections and networks benefit individuals and how social capital is linked to one’s social position and status. Social capital comes from having strong relationships and is tied to social class. In the context of student life, participating in extracurricular activities helps students build networks. By participating in sports or other activities, students meet new people, create friendships, and build relationships. This helps in reducing feelings of loneliness and they have a sense of belonging.

Accommodation and living conditions affect the university experience and the personal comfort of a student.  Satisfaction with current living arrangements varies among students. While  50%  were satisfied, 49% remain neutral only few of them were dissatisfied. Students shared a lof of issues with their accommodations. Common problems were strict rules, food and hygiene concerns, budget issues, privacy issues, and inadequate facilities. Specific complaints included water shortages and uncooperative landlords. Some students also mentioned the challenges of living in off-campus accommodations which increases the distance from the university.  When asked if their accommodation was good value for money, some students agreed while others strongly felt it was not, and many students remained neutral. Safety is another important aspect of accommodation. Majority of the students felt safe and a small percentage felt unsafe. Here again Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory can be applied. As the resources and power are not evenly distributed, wealthier students might have better living arrangements, while others struggle with high costs and inadequate facilities. This inequality highlights how societal structures favour those with more resources, making it harder for less privileged students to succeed.

Political engagement in campus helps students to express their views and participate in discussions that shape their educational environment. When asked about their engagement in political discussions or activism, some students engaged often, while others rarely or never participated. Despite this diversity, a significant portion of students felt that the political climate on campus is not respectful towards diverse opinions. Quite a few of them have felt uncomfortable or threatened due to political views expressed on campus. Some students express concerns about the inclusivity of the political climate, while others feel it is irrelevant to their campus experience.

C. Wright Mills’ in his power elite theory argues that a small group of elites controls society and acts in its own interests. On campus, this theory can be applied to understand how influential students and administration shape the political climate. This concentration of power can affect student activism and freedom of expression, often making it harder for minority views to be heard. As a result, the dominant group’s opinions may overshadow encouraging inlcusivity.

Managing finances is important for a student. Budgeting, tracking expenses, and saving money are essential skills that many students need to develop while staying away from their parents. When students were asked about their ability to stick to their monthly budget, some students reported never finding it challenging, but a significant number often found it difficult to stick with their budget. The survey also inquired about tracking monthly expenses who showed that  a majority of students do keep track of their spending. Savings is another important aspect of financial management. When asked if they set aside any portion of their allowance for savings, the responses were mixed. Some students consistently save money, others do so occasionally, and a significant number do not save at all.

Students often face various barriers while accessing educational resources provided by their institutions. When students were asked if they faced any barriers to accessing educational resources, the majority (65%) responded with “maybe.” Meanwhile, 10% of students stated that they faced barriers, while 25% reported no barriers at all. A significant portion of students (38.8%) reported that they sometimes find the educational resources inadequate for their needs. Additionally, 30.6% often feel the resources fall short, while the others never experience inadequacy in resources. When asked if their institution provides equal access to education for all students, a notable 83.7% believed their institution did. However, 16.3% felt that equal access was not provided.

When asked about other significant problems students highlighted various other challenges. Some mentioned feeling lonely and lacking close friendships, while others emphasised the high cost of accommodation and living in cities like Delhi. Issues related to food and hygiene, both in hostels and on campus along with concerns about strict campus rules and inadequate healthcare facilities. Islamophobia and discrimination based on religion, language, and region were also significant issues for some students, creating an uncomfortable environment. Academic pressures, such as lack of support for practicals and assignments and favoritism by teachers were also an issue faced by the students. Many students also pointed out the lack of adequate mental health support, career counseling, and medical help on campus. Language barriers between faculty and students were a particular concern at institutions. The quality of food and the high prices in campus canteens were other common complaints. Overall, while the survey covered many issues, these additional concerns highlight the diverse challenges students face in their academic lives.

References

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qnfJ0LZJActQjkpN4F5ACfqGGuaSZF69JJBwd712cAU/edit?usp=sharing

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