Academic Success at University

“Early predictors of first-year academic success at university” (2016, University of Rotterdam)

In 2011, 453 students filled out detailed questionnaires whilst still at school/college

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Questions explored:

1. How much did the students want to attend a particular university? (questions related to career hopes, attractiveness of campus, location and environment, recommendations by others… 40 factors in total)
2. How confident and positive were students about their own academic capability?
3. How hard were students working at school/college?

The researchers then tracked which of the 453 students completed their first year at university (40 study credits or more)

…and which failed to get the 40 study credits needed to continue their courses.

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• They were on a mix of courses; Economics, Law. Philosophy, Health Management…
• There was a roughly 50/50 split for male/female
• 12% of students failed the first year

Findings: academic success

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Findings: academic success

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Findings: likelihood of dropping out

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Findings: likelihood of dropping out

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Quotes re. effort:

“the more effort during the last year at secondary school, the lower the chance of dropping out in the first year at university…”

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“[It] could be that students who drop out… do not have sufficient control over their level of effort: they might not have been able to increase their level of effort to [pass] the first year.”

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“…the non-cognitive factor ‘pre-university effort’ could be relevant when interviewing or selecting prospective students.”

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“…the finding that students who show more effort in their final year in secondary education have less chance of dropping out in the first year can be used in study choice and information events to inform prospective students about successful studying at university.”

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How many people drop out in the UK?

Finishers getting a degree

How much does it cost to drop out?

How much does it cost to drop out?

How much does it cost to drop out?

How much does it cost to drop out?

What does this mean for you?

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• You must ensure that ‘working hard’ is something you’re used to.
• You need to ‘train’ for university through hard work now, so you’re at the right level for next year.
• You must ensure you can step up your levels of effort and continue to cope without being exhausted.
• You must avoid self-talk that says, “I’ll be fine. I’ll just cruise for now, then put the hours in when I get there.”

The Effort Thermometer

How hard do you think you’re working now?

The Effort Thermometer

The Habits of Effort

Which of the following 20 strategies could you incorporate into your working week?