Emily J. Shaw

Patterns of Persistence in Intended College Major with a Focus on STEM Majors.

In this study, we examined patterns of persisting in and switching from an intended college major (chosen in high school) in the third year of college. We focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) major persistence because of the national effort to increase those entering STEM careers. Results showed differences in persistence by academic field as well as by gender, parental income, and first-generation college student status with the largest variation by ethnicity. Further examination of STEM major persistence showed that high school performance in math and science, taking advanced placement exams in STEM, articulating positive science self-efficacy beliefs, and professing a goal of obtaining a doctorate were also related to persistence in varied ways across STEM majors.

A Look Beyond Cognitive Predictors of Academic Success: Understanding the Relationship Between Academic Self-Beliefs and Outcomes

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between academic self-beliefs (i.e., self-efficacy and degree aspirations) with various academic outcomes. Based on previous findings, it was hypothesized that students with more positive academic self-beliefs would perform better in school. The results supported prior research as students with higher academic self-beliefs also had higher SAT scores, grades, and second-year retention rates. Students with more negative writing and math self-efficacy beliefs were more likely to state that they would desire help with improving those skills. Suggestions for those in college counseling positions to intervene and provide assistance are discussed.

Exploring the Utility of Advanced Placement Participation and Performance in College Admission Decisions

The current study evaluated the relationship between various operationalizations of the Advanced Placement® (AP) exam and course information with first-year grade point average (FYGPA) in college to better understand the role of AP in college admission decisions. In particular, the incremental validity of the different AP variables, above relevant demographic and academic variables, in predicting FYGPA was explored using hierarchical linear modeling. The AP variables of interest included the following: the number of AP exams the student took, the number of AP exams the student took and received a score of 3 or higher, the proportion of the number AP exams the student took out of the number AP courses offered at his or her high school, and his or her average AP score, highest AP score, and lowest AP score. Results showed that the AP predictor that most improved model fit was the average AP exam score. The final model that included multiple AP variables and most improved model fit included the average AP score, the number of AP exams the student took and received a score of 3 or higher, and the AP exam proportion (which had a negative relationship with FYGPA). These results are particularly relevant and timely for college admission and measurement professionals as AP course-taking information as opposed to AP exam score information tends to be more regularly factored into admission decisions if and when AP information is considered at all.

Describing Students Involved in the Search Phase of the College Choice Process: A Cluster Analysis Study

The media often communicates the existence of two distinct types of college applicants: the frenzied, overachieving, anxious student who applies to many institutions and the underprepared, less advantaged student who is not at all familiar with the application process. Although these two groups likely do exist, they are far from the norm of college applicants who are better exemplified as at least a few groups of students who can be classified based on relevant characteristics. We identified five unique clusters of students: Privileged High Achievers/Athletes, Disadvantaged Students, Average Students Needing More Guidance, Mostly Female Academics, and Privileged Low Achievers. These clusters differed from each other based on variables including: academic performance, demographic characteristics, home and school characteristics, participation in school activities, and the number and types of higher education institutions to which they apply. An understanding of these descriptive clusters, comprised of students with similar backgrounds and goals for higher education, is a necessary first step in developing more thoughtful and inclusive enrollment management and college preparation practices.

When Both the Skilled and Unskilled are Unaware: Consequences for Academic Performance

The authors replicate Kruger and Dunning (1999) by demonstrating that the most unskilled students overestimate their skill level, whereas highly skilled students underestimate their skill level. Furthermore, this misestimation of skill is related to academic performance. Misestimation was positively related to first year college GPA, persistence to the fourth year of college, and graduation. At times, this effect can lead lower-ability students to perform just as well as, or better than, higher-ability students. Thus, misestimation of skill level appears to serve as a benefit for less-skilled individuals, but as a hindrance for highly-skilled individuals as they pursue academic goals.

An Alternative Presentation of Incremental Validity Discrepant SAT and HSGPA Performance

This study examined discrepant high school grade point average (HSGPA) and SAT performance as measured by the difference between a student’s standardized SAT composite score and standardized HSGPA. The SAT–HSGPA discrepancy measure was used to examine whether certain students are more likely to exhibit discrepant performance and in what direction. Additionally, the relationship between the SAT–HSGPA discrepancy measure and other academic indicators was examined. Finally, the relationship between the SAT–HSGPA discrepancy measure and the error term of three admission models (HSGPA only, SAT score only, and HSGPA and SAT scores) was examined. Results indicated that females, minority, low socioeconomic status, and nonnative English speakers were more likely to have higher HSGPAs relative to their SAT scores. Furthermore, using only HSGPA for admission overpredicted college performance for those students who had higher HSGPA as compared with SAT scores and underpredicted college performance for students with higher SAT scores as compared with HSGPA. The results underscore the utility of using both HSGPA and test scores for admission decisions.

Academic Fit: Is the Right School the Best School or is the Best School the Right School?

The purpose of the current study was to examine the academic consequences of attending an institution that is not considered an academic fit for a student. The results from the current study show that more able students perform better in college in terms of first-year GPA and retention to their second year regardless of the institution they attend. Additionally, after controlling for ability, students attending more selective institutions perform better in college. However, the results do not support an academic fit effect above and beyond individual and school effects. The results have implications for higher education admission policies. Specifically, institutions that want to maximize the percentage of admitted students that are successful and return for their second year should not minimize the academic qualifications of the applicants. They should not be worried about selecting “overqualified” applicants, who they believe may be bored or not challenged enough at their institution, as these students earn higher college first-year GPAs and are more likely to return for their second year. On the other hand, students who are not academically qualified are more likely to earn lower grades and leave the institution.

Identification of Multiple Nonreturner Profiles to Inform the Development of Targeted College Retention Interventions

Throughout the college retention literature, there is a recurring theme that students leave college for a variety of reasons making retention a difficult phenomenon to model. In the current study, cluster analysis techniques were employed to investigate whether multiple empirically based profiles of nonreturning students existed to more fully understand the types of students with particular characteristics that are related to leaving college. Based on over 18,000 students who left their initial institution after the first year, analyses supported three clusters, which were labeled as Affordability Issues, Unexpected Underperformers, and Underprepared and Facing Hurdles. Follow-up analyses were then conducted to determine whether students from each cluster had different higher education trajectories. Students in the Underprepared and Facing Hurdles cluster were most likely to drop out of higher education completely or transfer to a 2-year institution. Those students in the Affordability Issues cluster were most likely to transfer to a less expensive 4-year institution. Finally, the Unexpected Underperformers behaved somewhere in between the other two clusters with regard to dropout and transfer behavior. The implications of these findings in terms of developing more thoughtful and targeted retention interventions for these different types of students are discussed.

Discrepant SAT Critical Reading and Writing Scores: Implications for College Performance

Despite the similarities that researchers note between the cognitive processes and knowledge involved in reading and writing, there are students who are much stronger readers than writers and those who are much stronger writers than readers. The addition of the writing section to the SAT provides an opportunity to examine whether certain groups of students are more likely to exhibit stronger performance in reading versus writing and the academic consequences of this discrepant performance. Results of this study, based on hierarchical linear models of student performance, showed that even after controlling for relevant student characteristics and prior academic performance, an SAT critical reading–writing discrepancy had a small effect on 1st-year grade point average as well as English course grades in college. Specifically, students who had relatively higher writing scores as compared to their critical reading scores earned higher grades in their 1st year of college as well as in their 1st-year English course(s).

How Final Is Leaving College While in Academic Jeopardy? Examining the Utility of Differentiating College Leavers by Academic Standing.

Retention research rarely differentiates between students dismissed from an institution for poor academic performance versus students leaving by choice. As a proxy for studying academic dismissal, this study investigated differences between students leaving college in academic jeopardy after the first year (<2.00 grade point average) and those leaving in good standing. These two types of academic leavers differed sharply in their 6-year completion outcomes, with students leaving in good standing most likely to receive a degree from another 4-year institution and students leaving in academic jeopardy most likely to not receive a postsecondary degree in 6 years. Further, these two groups differed on a number of student demographic and academic characteristics (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, first-generation college student, SAT scores) and institutional characteristics of first institution attended (e.g., freshman class size). Future research should consider differentiating between these two types of academic leavers when examining retention and designing-related interventions.