Date Approved
4-2018
Graduate Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Dr. Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury
Second Advisor
Dr. Laura O'Hara
Third Advisor
Dr. Ken Rabourn
Academic Year
2017/2018
Abstract
International students face particular barriers when attending higher education in the United States, some of which could be due to misguided expectations of their experiences. This research study used Expectancy Violations Theory to explore the expectations of international students in their first semester in the United States. Using semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study found that participants create expectations for academics, relationships, culture, and lifestyle, and that these expectations are either met or violated, which results in differing experiences. These expectations were created both consciously and unconsciously and were sometimes a result of information found online or learned from other people. The violations of these expectations influence the experiences participants had in the United States.
ScholarWorks Citation
Mullen, Meagan, "What to Expect? An Exploration of International Student Experience" (2018). Masters Theses. 875.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses/875
