Diagnostic study of academic readiness skills in students participating in the program for access to higher education (PACE)

Abstract

The dropout and retention rates in higher education are relevant topics in current research, leading to an exploration of the factors or variables that influence these phenomena. One of these factors is academic readiness, which refers to the skills developed during prior schooling that serve as the foundation for coping with the stresses encountered in university life. The development of these skills during high school is not always adequate or successful, and this affects academic performance and university retention rates. The aim of this study was to determine the entry profiles associated with the academic readiness of students enrolled in the Program for Access to Higher Education (PACE). An instrument was applied to a sample of 167 students admitted through PACE in order to identify academic readiness profiles, indicating that the student body is characterized by dimensions of Personal Determination and Academic Self-Efficacy with high average scores, while the dimensions of Emotional Modulation and Effective Communication presented lower scores. These findings allow for the development of support strategies and preventive monitoring systems to assist the adaptability processes of students from socioeconomically vulnerable sectors as they transition into higher education.