Friendship in College and Its Influence on Retention and Performance

Abstract

Retention and success of students are influenced by many factors. One of them is friendship that the students experience and build inside and outside the college where they study. Some studies conducted in this area result consistent findings and held institutions or colleges in maintaining their students until they graduate. Many students go to college for the first time without quite good psychological readiness to face higher education environment. Students’ relationship with their parents and peers could strongly support the students when they face problems whether they are academic or social matters. The students’ good relationship with parents and peers, therefore, could influence their study retention and success. This research examined friendship and its influence in students’ retention and academic performance. In measuring the diversity of friendship groups and their effects, reseacher conducted a study of a fairly diverse batch of student. By employing Likert scale questionnaire the role of friendship measured and tested on student persistence and performance variables. One important finding of this study was that friends significantly influence in student decision to sustain their study in college and to finish it instead of the influence of their parents. Surprisingly, the result of this study showed the negative impact of friendship on student performance. However, this finding depicted the fact of the importance of friendship in positive academic environment. Further, from this study, an opportunity to improve campus friendship climates shown to make students sustain their study and encourage in gaining good academic performance. By communicating the actual nature of student interactions, campus communities can promote more friendships and give a good influence for student success.