Introduction. This article shows the results of the research work Newcomer students in the university scenario. Objective. To have a comprehensive approach to the situation of and becoming a university student� experiencedbyfirstyearphysiotherapy� students at the CES University, in Medellin, Colombia. Materials and methods. This is a qualitative study made within a hermeneutical focus conceptually based on contributions of Arendts politic philosophy, Larrosa and Skliars philosophy of experiences, the otherness perspective with Melich and Levinas and Girouxs critical pedagogy. As methodological strategies group interviews, focus groups and experience narrations by the youngsters were used. Results. The analysis was made under a focus on the institutional context and the subject being formed as a discussion base, classifying thefirstoneintotwocategories:�Thenotionofthe� university scenario and the university culture. In the second, the categories were the processing of tensions between change and permanence and the interaction ways with the universitys ethos, with its respective trends. Conclusions. A clear difference between the students retention and permanence in the university was found. This permanence can be favored by establishing a warm and hospitable induction process, improving communication strategies, promoting their development and creating conditions to establish academic and social networks.