The purpose of this study was to examine intellectual (standardized tests and high school grades) and nonintellectual (attitudes, personality, and the like) predictors of success for students in special programs for culturally different students. Ninety-five freshmen enrolled in a special program at the University of Maryland, 90 of whom were…

The study investigated (1) the prediction of attrition/persistence for disadvantaged and regular freshmen at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and (2) the effectiveness, in terms of attrition/persistence, of an experimental program for disadvantaged students. Descriptive, variance, and correlational (single and multiple) analyses and chi square…

U.S. junior high school students in grades 7 and 8 (N=226) responded to survey items on their self-esteem and interest in schoolwork, their personal expectancy of completing high school, and perceived support from their teachers, parents, and peers for this expectancy. Their grade point average (GPA) and attendance data were obtained from school…

This study appraised the validity of SAT scores, in combination with grades in high school courses and the number and difficulty level of these courses, in predicting college grades in various fields of study, with the objective of providing SAT takers with predictions of their academic performance in different fields for guidance purposes. The…

Studies predicting success in college for students graduating since 1980 are reviewed. SAT scores and high school records are the most common predictors, but a few studies of other predictors are included. The review establishes that SAT scores and high school records predict academic performance, nonacademic accomplishments, leadership in…

A follow-up study of 146 recipients of bachelor's degrees in psychology yielded information about: course work; grade point average; fields of interest; graduate study plans; occupational use of psychology; type of job; value of faculty help; and characteristics of faculty who were influential in their lives. (Author/MH)

The University of Tennessee College of Medicine failed to increase its enrollment of Black students and consistently ranked among the bottom quarter of U.S. medical schools. This essay chronicles the events, self-analysis, new programs, changes in operating procedure, and institutional commitment that led to the college's present ranking in the…

Examines the predictive value of several variables on the grade point averages (GPA) for 337 Mexican American and 153 Puerto Rican urban ninth-grade students. Gender and immigration status significantly predicted GPA. English proficiency was significantly different for the two groups, and a greater number of English-proficient Mexican Americans…

A study of 557 medical students investigated gender and age differences in: undergraduate science and cumulative grade-point averages (GPAs), medical college admission test scores, admissions interview ratings, medical school GPAs, and standardized medical achievement test scores. Dramatic differences were found in pre-admission performance, with…

Describes a study comparing the academic performance of 3 groups of students at a Kentucky university: former community college students who transferred with 60 or more credits; students transferring with less than 60 credits; and nontransfer students. Reports differences in grade point averages, graduation rates, and dismissal rates, indicating…

A study of 437 pharmacy students in Texas found prepharmacy grade point average the best predictor of academic performance for most demographic variables. The number of hours contributed to community activities was the best predictor of academic performance of older and black students. Students with poorer academic performance were likely to be…

Studied whether differences exist among academic, affective, and personal characteristics of teacher education persisters and nonpersisters in a longitudinal sample of 550 education majors. Five years later, 65% had persisted through teacher training. Factors predicting persistence (i.e., higher college grade point average and positive attitude…

A study investigated effects of a requirement of a year of full-time study on 205 graduate social work students. Findings indicated no differences between part-time and full-time students in first-year courses but poorer academic performance by previous part-timers during the required full-time second year. (Author/MSE)

Presents findings about retention rates, earned credits, and grade point averages for four cohorts of first-time college freshmen in a support program for minority students. Describes a five-part research plan: (1) application of descriptive statistics; (2) multicohort analyses; (3) definition of retention; (4) adoption of an outcomes typology;…

Regressing adjusted grade point averages (GPAs) on freshman Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores and high school GPAs increases the SAT's predictive validity. However, these adjusted SATs change only a small proportion of admissions decisions, do not increase freshman grades, but do change freshman class composition in some majors and limit…