Admission and completion of social work programs: Who drops out and who finishes?

Abstract

Summary This study explored differences between 389 Israeli students in a Social Work department who finished their studies and 120 students who began, but did not complete their degree. Three groups of variables were compared: demographic variables (gender and age), test scores (on the matriculation and psychometric exams), and assessment of participation in a group interview prior to acceptance. Findings Except for gender, there were no significant differences between the students who finished their studies and those who dropped out. Among the students who completed their degree, only women, who received a higher score on the psychometric test, finished their studies with a higher grade point average. Only the men, who had a higher score on their matriculation exams, ended with a higher grade point average. The results also showed that, for the men, there was a significant positive correlation between the assessment of their performance on the interview and the final grade point average. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between the way the candidates were categorized by the interviewers and the overall assessment they received on this criterion. Applications The results of this study add support to previous research that showed that gender and the scores on the matriculation and psychometric exams are connected to success in social work programs. In addition, it was found that the pre-acceptance group interview can differentiate between those candidates who will complete their studies and those who will not. These findings can hopefully help social work departments improve the procedures they use in their admissions’ mechanisms.