Study: grit as an indicator of college success
May 1st, 2017Have you ever heard the word “grit” used to describe a successful student? I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t, but it has become a buzzword in the education community. The word encompasses three characteristics: persistence, determination and resilience. These traits are often more difficult to quantify than test scores and GPA, but college admissions offices are beginning to incorporate this into their process for determining college success.
The article posted today comes from the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) website. In this post, author Tara Nicola shares a study that was used to look into the predictive power of grit. We’re excited to see more studies proving that it is important for colleges to incorporate more cognitive traits into their selection process.
Article below published on the NACAC website on February 14, 2017
Underlying the college admission process is the principle that colleges should strive to accept the most academically talented students. What are the factors that best predict academic success in college?
Historically, postsecondary institutions have relied on quantitative indicators such as high school GPA and standardized test scores to assess a student’s academic potential, and with good reason—there is strong evidence linking these factors with academic performance in college. Yet such measures are neither foolproof, nor do they capture key non-cognitive characteristics, like motivation, enthusiasm, and maturity, which also impact academic outcomes.
Read more at National Association for College Admission Counseling >>Tagged: Choices, College, Personal characteristics
