Dropping out or persevering: What distinguishes university dropouts from other students?

The present longitudinal study compared university dropouts to regular students who continued studying. The following variables were examined: motivational characteristics, aspects of self-concept, learning strategies, social competence, perceived quality of teaching, epistemological beliefs, and financial situation. The sample comprised 47 dropout students (26 early dropouts, 21 late dropouts) and a group of 94 matched regular students. The results were as follows: (1) Motivational variables, perceived quality of teaching, self-estimated knowledge, use of learning strategies, and social competence indicated the largest differences between dropout and regular students. (2) Differences between dropout and regular students were smaller at the beginning of studying than when measured close to the point of time of dropping out. (3) Late dropouts generally differed more strongly from regular students than early dropouts.