Drop out rates

This report summarised below shows a link between poverty and dropping out.  The more a student can convince admissions tutors that they are a serious studnet with less chance of dropping out, then they hve to be in with a better chance of securing offers.

A study, by York St John College, on dropout rates at university, has shown a clear correlation between retention rates and the proportion of students from lower socio economic backgrounds. Les Ebdon, Director of OFFA, said the research “starkly” illustrates the cost of taking too many students from poorer backgrounds because of the “significant loss of money” when a student drops out.  He noted that; “If universities were simply a business they wouldn’t do it”.

 

However, the retention rate varied amongst universities attracting a similar socio economic student base, and similar pre entry qualifications. Tessa Stone, chief executive of the Brightside education charity, said that university location, number of international students, and course quality, all made a difference in retention. In addition, she said the problem could be a vicious circle because when peers see other students dropping out it “reinforces the fact that it’s possible”. Les Ebdon said “Money is clearly quite important. The poorer you are, the less likely you are to stay on the course”. However, he added that, “A sense of belonging is critical to student success. If you feel that you don’t belong either because of class or ethnicity, you’re more likely to drop out”.

thanks to G Collins of ceslondon