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Are our international undergraduatesstruggling academically?
Dulce Amor L. DoradoAssociate Director, International
CenterDirector, International Students & Programs Office
Barry Fass-Holmes, Ph.D.Analytical Studies Coordinator,
International Students & Programs Office
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Today’s goals
International undergraduates:• Who are they?• Do they prefer
specific majors over others?• Do they succeed academically in
specific courses and/or
majors but not in others?• Do standardized tests predict their
academic success?• What is their performance in SDCC English
courses?• What is their performance in UC San Diego writing
courses?
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Who are they?—non-immigrants; exclude PR, AM, AP, AS, OT, RF,
and domestics
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Do they prefer specific majors over others?—yes, but not only
ones that emphasize mathematics
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Are they struggling academically in general?—no
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
FA07 WI08 SP08 FA08 WI09 SP09 FA09 WI10 SP10 FA10 WI11 SP11
FA11
9.29.08.79.810.410.99.78.112.510.47.79.111.3
PERC
ENTA
GE
OF
F-1
UNDE
RGRA
DS PERCENTAGE OF NEW AND CONTINUING F-1 UNDERGRADS WITH TERM
GPA
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Are they struggling academically in general?—no
FA12 GPAsFA12 GPAsCollege # GPA #
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Do they succeed academically in specific courses and/or majors
but not in others?—generally succeed
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1.7
33.3
13.3
6.710.0
3.3 1.7 1.7 0 03.3
0 0
18.3
0 0
6.7
THEATER
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2.1
14.112.0
16.2
7.04.9
2.15.6
1.4 0 0 0 0.7
23.9
4.9
0
4.9
VISUAL ARTS
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1.7
33.3
13.3
6.710.0
3.3 1.7 1.7 0 03.3
0 0
18.3
0 0
6.7
THEATER
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2.1
14.112.0
16.2
7.04.9
2.15.6
1.4 0 0 0 0.7
23.9
4.9
0
4.9
VISUAL ARTS
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
5.4
12.616.2
18.9
9.97.2
3.60 0
2.70 1.8
15.3
1.8 04.5
LINGUISTICS
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
29.8
11.9
4.8
14.3
6.0
02.4
0 0 0 0 0
27.4
0 03.6
LITERATURE
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
5.4
12.616.2
18.9
9.97.2
3.60 0
2.70 1.8
15.3
1.8 04.5
LINGUISTICS
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
29.8
11.9
4.8
14.3
6.0
02.4
0 0 0 0 0
27.4
0 03.6
LITERATURE
COUN
TS a
nd P
ERCE
NTAG
ES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
FA11 NFRS & TRAN FA11 academic marks
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Do they succeed academically in some courses/majors and not in
others?—generally succeed
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
8.7
21.2
13.411.0
15.1
5.6 5.9 7.12.8
01.9
0
5.01.0 0 0 1.4
MATH
COUN
TS
PERC
ENTA
GES
COUNTSPERCENTAGES
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F P NP IP W
FA11 NFRS & TRAN FA11 academic marks
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Do standardized tests predict their academic success?—only SAT
math consistently predicts quarterly GPAs
Table 3. Significant Predictors of GPA from the Correlation
Analyses
Cohort Predictor Quarter r df p
FA09 SAT math FA09 .27 48 .05
SAT math WI10 .30 48 .05
FA10 SAT math FA10 .23 111
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What is their performance in SDCC English courses?—generally
struggling; average grade ~D+ in FA11
0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
FA07 FA08 FA09 FA10 FA11
1.67
2.272.67
2.03
3.00
AVER
AGE
GRA
DE
F1 NFRS STUDENTSʼ SDCC ENGLISH COURSESDURING THEIR FIRST QUARTER
AT UC SAN DIEGO
1.0=D2.0=C3.0=B
0102030405060708090
100
FA07 FA08 FA09 FA10 FA11
42.0
10.55.6
20.6
0
PERC
ENTA
GE
OF
STUD
ENTS
FIRST QUARTER ATTENDING UC SAN DIEGO
F1 NFRS STUDENTS WITH D OR F IN SDCC ENGLISH COURSESDURING THEIR
FIRST QUARTER AT UC SAN DIEGO
Data source: Data Warehouse (5-14-12)
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What is their performance in UC San Diego writing
courses?—average grade ~B- in FA11
05
101520253035404550
10
20
1# F
1 UN
DERG
RADU
ATES
Argument and Analysis (MCWP)Critical Writing (MCWP)The Writing
Course A (WCWP)
FA11 F1 UNDERGRADUATES TAKING FA11 COLLEGE WRITING CLASSES
Argument and Analysis (MCWP)Critical Writing (MCWP)The Writing
Course A (WCWP)
FA11 F1 UNDERGRADUATES' AVERAGE GRADE IN FA11 COLLEGE WRITING
CLASSES
A
B
C
D
F
AVER
AGE
GRA
DE
0102030405060708090
100
BELOW C ABOVE B+
% F
1 UN
DERG
RADU
ATES
Argument and Analysis (MCWP)Critical Writing (MCWP)The Writing
Course A (WCWP)
FA11 F1 UNDERGRADUATES STRUGGLING OR EXCELLING
IN FA11 COLLEGE WRITING CLASSES
# NFRS # TRAN
2
8 8
15
10
Argument and Analysis (MCWP)Critical Writing (MCWP)The Writing
Course A (WCWP)
FA11 F1 UNDERGRADUATES TAKING FA11 COLLEGE WRITING CLASSES
Data source: Data Warehouse 1-8-13
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What is their performance in UC San Diego writing
courses?—average grade ~B- in FA12
Data source: Data Warehouse 1-8-13
FA12 F1 UNDERGRADUATES TAKING FA12 COLLEGE WRITING CLASSES
# NFRS # TRAN
0
11
0
95
63
0 13
FA12 F1 UNDERGRADUATES TAKING FA12 COLLEGE WRITING CLASSES
0102030405060708090
100
12
94
63
3#F1
UND
ERG
RADU
ATES
FA12 F1 UNDERGRADUATES' AVERAGE GRADE IN FA12 COLLEGE WRITING
CLASSES
0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
2.82.72.72.6
AVER
AGE
GRA
DE
Critical Writing Exploring the Pre-Modern WorldPre-History &
Ancient Foundatn The Writing Course A
FA12 F1 UNDERGRADUATES STRUGGLING OR EXCELLING
IN FA12 COLLEGE WRITING CLASSES
0102030405060708090
100
BELOW C ABOVE B+
% F
1 UN
DERG
RADU
ATES
Critical Writing Exploring the Pre-Modern WorldPre-History &
Ancient FoundatnThe Writing Course A
Critical Writing Exploring the Pre-Modern WorldPre-History &
Ancient FoundatnThe Writing Course A
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ConclusionsUC San Diego’s international undergraduates,
regardless of major…• generally succeeding in UC San Diego courses•
generally struggling in SDCC English courses• generally succeeding
in UC San Diego writing courses
Standardized tests used for admissions purposes do not
consistently predict these students’ academic performance (except
SAT math).
✔
✔
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What is their performance in SDCC English courses?—generally
struggling
Data source: Data Warehouse 5-14-12
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
FA07 FA08 FA09 FA10 FA11
62.7
47.1
37.5
54.059.2
PERC
ENTA
GE
OF
STUD
ENTS
FIRST QUARTER ATTENDING UC SAN DIEGO
F1 NFRS STUDENTS IN SDCC ENGLISH COURSESDURING THEIR FIRST
QUARTER AT UC SAN DIEGO
PERC
ENTA
GE
OF
STUD
ENTS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
FA07 FA08 FA09 FA10 FA11
69.5
38.633.3
14.73.4
F1 NFRS STUDENTS IN SDCC ENGLISH COURSES WHO ARE CHINESE
Data source: Data Warehouse (5-14-12)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
FA07 FA08 FA09 FA10 FA11
62.7
47.1
37.5
54.059.2
PERC
ENTA
GE
OF
STUD
ENTS
FIRST QUARTER ATTENDING UC SAN DIEGO
F1 NFRS STUDENTS IN SDCC ENGLISH COURSESDURING THEIR FIRST
QUARTER AT UC SAN DIEGO
PERC
ENTA
GE
OF
STUD
ENTS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
FA07 FA08 FA09 FA10 FA11
69.5
38.633.3
14.73.4
F1 NFRS STUDENTS IN SDCC ENGLISH COURSES WHO ARE CHINESE
Data source: Data Warehouse (5-14-12)