Abstract

VINACUR, Tamara. Are Private School Students Better Trained for University Admission?. Rev. colomb. educ. [online]. 2016, n.70, pp.175-200. ISSN 0120-3916.

Admission to higher education reflects a differential access to educational opportunities, continuity and achievement, even in institutions without any entry exams or requirements. The article studies the impact of public and private secondary schools in the academic achievement of freshmen students at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). Some student's personal and family-related variables as well as characteristics of the census radio where the secondary schools are located are taken into consideration. The sample consists of 8542 students who enrolled to the Common Basic Cycle of the UBA in 2010 and took the subject "Introduction to the Study of Society and State" (one of the two subjects common to all majors.) The analysis shows that, as a rule, younger students (17-19 years old) perform better academically, no matter the influence of the census radio and the type of the secondary school (private or public) they attended to. It is also identified that students from private secondary schools-mainly those from schools in high-income areas-are more likely to have a strong academic performance as freshmen, as evidenced in their final grade as well as in the time needed to get it. However, it is found that this difference disappears among those who attended public schools located in poorer areas, when compared to those who attended private schools in similar areas. Finally, attention is drawn to the need to consider the characteristics of students and their homes as possible recruitment requirements.

Keywords : University; secondary school; private education; admission; academic success.

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