Improving the academic performance of immigrant university students: The importance of group study

The present article summarizes the results of econometric models, which allowed the identification of a gap in academic performance among students of Universidad del Pacifico when they started higher education. Specifically, students who finished high school in Lima had better academic performance than their peers from other regions (non-limerios). This gap narrowed as the semesters passed. Motivated by these results, we carry out a qualitative research and conducted in-depth interviews in order to learn about the university experience of immigrant students. We identify that academic difficulties had its origin in non-limerios' deficits brought from their high-school stage: habits of studying individually and only a few hours before evaluations; lack of deep Mathematics knowledge; and, finally, the lack of English proficiency. To overcome these disadvantages and improve their academic performance, the majority found out group study as the best strategy.