Predictors of First-Year Sultan Qaboos University Students’ Grade Point Average

Abstract

This study investigated predictors of first-year university grade point average (GPA) using academic and non-academic variables. Data were collected from 1511 Omani students selected conveniently from the population of students entering Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Fall 2010. Variables considered in the analysis were general education diploma average score, university readiness, critical thinking skills, motivational traits, learning strategies, gender, type of school education, type of first admitted college, and overall performance on the foundation placement tests. Results of the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the final full model included general education diploma average score, gender, overall performance on the foundation placement tests, type of college, extrinsic goal orientation, university readiness, and critical thinking as collectively statistically significant predictors of the grade point average; accounting for 26.8% of the variance in the grade point average. Research and practical implications for the study of university student success are discussed. Keywords: first-year university, academic achievement, university GPA, motivation, learning strategies, predictive validit