PREDICTORS OF ACHIEVEMENT IN A MODEL TWO‐YEAR COLLEGE

Abstract

In order to identify factors related, to academic success at a model two‐year college, creativity, SATs, and high school GPA were factor analyzed, as were academic motivation variables, and included with sex in a step‐wise regression with college GPA as the criterion. Subjects were 278 freshmen at a two‐year “cluster college” for educationally marginal students. Predictors included scholastic aptitude, high school achievement, creative thinking ability, and academic motivation measures. The multiple R was .60; .54 upon cross‐validation. Although SAT scores did not correlate with high school grades, they were relatively strong predictors for college grades. High school grades also predicted for college grades entering second after SAT scores. Creative ability was a significant and stable low‐positive predictor, third in importance following SAT and high school GPA measures. The positive nature of this relationship is important as it is rare in a college population. Certain dimensions of achievement motivation were also relevant but added little to prediction.