Effects of Ability, High School Achievement, and Procrastinatory Behavior on College Performance

Abstract

Ability, high school achievement, and procrastinatory behavior are tested as predictors of college performance in 194 women and 54 men. Ability was operationalized by total Scholastic Aptitude Test score, achievement by average grade earned in high school, and procrastination by score on the Procrastination Assessment Scale (PASS). It was hypothesized that procrastination could account for variance beyond that explained by ability and high school achievement in predicting college grade point average (GPA). Self-handicapping, a form of excuse making, was also included as a predictor. Results showed that procrastination does account for a significant portion of variance in college grades beyond that explained by ability and high school grades. For men, high school achievement was the strongest predictor of college performance; for women, ability was the strongest predictor. Self-handicapping did not account for any variance in GPA.