Examined influence of on-campus residence, as compared with off-campus residence, on academic performance, progress, and retention of first-year college students. Findings from 5,414 students revealed that progress and retention were significantly higher for on-campus students regardless of race, gender, or admission type. On-campus students…

Two studies examined the relationship between a measure of metacognitive word knowledge, the KMA (knowledge monitoring ability), and performance in college. Using undergraduate grade point average in a number of academic domains as criterion measures, this research provides support for the validity of the KMA as a predictor of success in college.…

Examines white mothers (n=199) and white fathers (n=144) of adolescents reporting regular alcohol use. Less than one third of parents were aware of their adolescents' drinking. Parental awareness of adolescent alcohol use served to protect adolescents by moderating the reaction of parents' responsiveness to episodes of drinking and driving.…

Examined variability in adolescent-friend similarity in African American, Asian American, and European American adolescents. Found greatest similarity for substance use, modest for academic orientation, and low for ethnic identity. Found that compared with other groups, African Americans chose friends who were less similar in academic orientation…

The purpose of this split-sample regression study was to determine whether quantitative and verbal scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test, undergraduate grade point averages, age, and gender differentially predicted performance for 198 MBA students. Findings suggest that commonly used predictor variables may predict achievement…

Reports on a four-year mentoring project developed for African-American adolescents. Self-esteem, attitudes toward drugs and alcohol, grades, school attendance, and disciplinary infractions were examined. No significant differences were found between the control and intervention groups. Offers explanations for why it is difficult to document the…

A study found that college freshmen (n=29) housed in a living and learning residence hall had higher grade point averages in all four semesters of their first 2 years of college, compared with those of a matched control group (n=55). The experimental group did not, however, have a higher retention rate. (MSE)

A model encompassing high school grades and rank and college admissions test scores predicted first-year grade point average and academic progress for 225 Mexican American and 83 white college freshmen (but was a better predictor for whites). Mexican American achievement was also related to academic self-concept in college and to being a social…

A study found college students majoring in "pure" disciplines were less likely than those in applied fields to hold naive beliefs in simple knowledge, quick learning, and certain knowledge. Gender, age, grade point average were also related to beliefs. Results suggest students' beliefs about the nature of knowledge and learning are related to…

Describes a study that compares the performance of community college and technical students who transferred to four-year universities. Indicates that technical college students had higher grade point averages but community college students had higher persistence rates. Contains 8 data tables and 17 references. (JDI)

Examined significance of PCAT scores, prepharmacy GPA, math and science GPA, and attainment of a previous college degree in predicting first-year pharmacy GPA. Asserts that the best predictive model incorporated all variables, while the most parsimonious model included math and science GPA and the PCAT chemistry subscore. The PCAT was a…

Compares grade point average (GPA) and graduation rates of transfer students and native students at a large university. Reports that: (1) transfer students suffer from transfer shock, but that they recover and graduate at rates comparable with native students; and (2) there was not a significant difference in the cumulative GPAs of the transfers…

In Study 1, the relationships between parental attachment, academic achievement, and distress were tested with a sample of academically successful inner-city high school students (N=100). Affective quality of maternal attachment was positively associated with grade point average. In Study 2, case examples provided an examination of sources of…

A study of 86 college students with learning disabilities (LD) that received permission to substitute courses for a foreign language (FL) requirement found that there were no differences in cognitive and academic achievement among students with different levels of discrepancy, graduating grade point average (GPA), or college FL GPA. (Author/CR)

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of Reconnecting Youth, a prevention program for at-risk high school youth. Data are from a large, independently evaluated effectiveness trial in two diverse urban school districts. A total of 1,218 students participated: 50% were male; average age was 15. We tested whether positive efficacy…