Variables related to the university dropout intention during the transition period

The critical transfer stage between High School and University comprise a broad period; from the beginning of the last year of secondary education to the conclusion of freshmen year. The objective of this paper is to look into this process, with the aim of identifying those variables that difference those students with intention of dropout from those that intend to persist. Thus, we have gather information by means of an ad hoc designed questionnaire. Our sample consist in 316 freshmen students from the Psychology, Speech Therapy and Teaching faculty. The results indicate that the variables that mostly disguise the students with intention of dropping out from those that intend to persist are: vocation as reason to elect the studied program, entering their first choice program, satisfaction with the program, perceived utility of the studies and interest in course contents.