<![CDATA[Background: The transition from high school to higher education is a pivotal milestone that significantly influences students' careers, academic growth, and personal development. However, many students struggle with academic stress, financial challenges, and adjusting to new learning environments. Objective: This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the opportunities, challenges, and strategies involved in the academic transition to higher education after Grade 12, with a focus on how students can be supported through this process to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Method: A literature review methodology was employed, analyzing 103 scholarly articles published between 2020 and 2025. The review synthesized findings from various studies on academic transition, focusing on opportunities for career development, challenges such as financial stress and ICT limitations, and strategies for overcoming these challenges. Result: The review revealed that the transition provides opportunities for career development, digital literacy, and social networking. However, students face challenges including financial stress, academic workload, and adjustment difficulties. Effective strategies identified include enhancing self-regulation, ICT skills, and parental engagement. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to supporting students during their transition to higher education. By addressing both opportunities and challenges and implementing targeted strategies, institutions can better facilitate students’ academic success and well-being. Originality/Value: This review article offers a comprehensive conceptual and integrative contribution to the field of higher education and academic transition counseling by synthesizing the evolving literature regarding the interplay among career development opportunities, psychosocial-financial adaptation challenges, and student readiness strategies following Grade 12, which have remained underexplored within a unified framework. This inquiry maps current theoretical and methodological gaps while serving as a strategic reference that contributes to establishing a holistic conceptual framework for academic transition, guiding future research agendas, and shaping institutional policy on first-year student support systems.]]>
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