A Longitudinal Analysis of Latina/o Students' Academic Persistence

This was a 4.5-year follow-up study of university persistence involving 71 Latina/o students, who were initially surveyed as 1st-semester freshmen. Academic (high school grade point average [GPA], entrance exam scores, and college GPA) and nonacademic (self-beliefs, social support, and academic persistence decisions) factors were examined to determine impact on persistence. Self-beliefs and mentoring predicted academic persistence and college GPA. Students who graduated had stronger high school GPAs, more mentoring, and more positive initial academic persistence decisions.