First-in-their-family students at university: Can non-cognitive skills compensate for social origin?

Rebecca Edwards, Rachael Gibson, Colm Harmon and Stefanie Schurer

Economics of Education Review, 2022, vol. 91, issue C

Abstract: We study the role of cognitive and non-cognitive skills in the university readiness and performance of first-in-family students (FIFS) using nationally representative survey data and linked survey-administrative data on an incoming student cohort at an elite Australian university. In both data sets, we find that FIFS enter university with lower levels of cognitive skills than non-FIFS but with similar levels of non-cognitive skills. The only exception is that male FIFS report lower levels of Openness to Experience. FIFS at the elite institution have lower grade-point averages and are more likely to drop out after Year 1 than non-FIFS, a finding driven by females. The higher risk of dropout is not observed in the broader Australian tertiary education context, suggesting that female FIFS struggle at this elite university. Gaps in cognitive skills are the dominant channel through which FIFS experience achievement penalties, while non-cognitive skills play no role. However, very low levels of Conscientiousness exacerbate the achievement penalties due to social origin.

Keywords: Non-cognitive skills; Cognitive skills; Academic performance; First-in-family; Linked survey and administrative data; Anchoring vignettes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 I24 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Working Paper: First-in-Their-Family Students at University: Can Non-Cognitive Skills Compensate for Social Origin? (2021)
Working Paper: First-in-their-family students at university: Can non-cognitive skills compensate for social origin? (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:91:y:2022:i:c:s0272775722000917

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2022.102318

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