Psychological Predictors of College Readiness of the K-12 Graduates

Abstract

How college ready are the K-12 graduates in the Philippines? What psychological factors influence their college readiness? How do these factors help to prepare them to transition from basic to tertiary education seamlessly and effectively? These questions were examined in this study using the 7,384 first year students enrolled in a state university in Northern Philippines as the respondents. Employing the quantitative research design, results revealed that the K-12 graduates demonstrated low preparedness for college education.  As regards psychological characteristics, majority of the respondents are mostly gritty, no more problematic in terms of study motivation and learning strategies, show neutral learning style, have below average to average school ability, unfavourable study habits and attitudes, low academic motivation, low self-concept, have undesirable personality traits, and are borderline in college adjustments. Furthermore, using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) particularly the Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM), the study revealed that college readiness is predicted by numerous psychological factors which include school ability, self-concept, study orientation, school motivation and learning strategies, and personality traits.