Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Which personality types are most likely to drop out of college?

I've been diving into some psychology and personality types lately, and I'm curious. Are certain personality types more likely to drop out of college than others?

a year ago

Interesting question! It's not necessarily about specific personality types, such as those defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, causing a higher dropout rate. Rather, certain personality traits might be more associated with college persistence.

1. Resilience and Grit: This relates to a person's ability to bounce back from challenging situations and persist despite difficulties or failures. Students who demonstrate resilience and grit are more likely to stay in school when faced with academic challenges.

2. Conscientiousness: A trait from the Big Five Personality Traits, students who are organized, reliable, and hardworking (high in conscientiousness) are often more likely to succeed in the structured environment of higher education.

3. Openness to Experience: Another trait from the Big Five Personality Traits, students who are open-minded and willing to accept new experiences may adapt better to college life, which can often involve a variety of social, cultural, and academic changes.

4. Emotional Stability: Often referred to as Neuroticism in psychology, students who exhibit signs of emotional stability (low Neuroticism) are more likely to cope effectively with the stresses that come with collegiate life.

However, remember that everyone is different, and these traits don't definitively determine one's success or risk in college. It's also important to consider other factors, like academic preparation, family support, financial aid availability, and the overall college environment, which play huge roles in student persistence.

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.