Is Admission Enough? University Persistence of Students Admitted Through Affirmative Action Policies in Chile

Affirmative action policies have been implemented in various regions of the globe as a strategy to promote equity in access to higher education. In Chile, some affirmative action policies have been implemented to reduce inequality in access to the most selective universities during last decade. However, in addition to access, it is important to consider the persistence of students to ensure their success within the system. The persistence of students admitted to 11 Chilean universities through affirmative action was analyzed using a multilevel discrete-time survival model and matching procedures. The results indicate that those admitted through special quota were more likely to drop out at the end of the first two years. However, the initial dropout rate was attributed to lower grades, while the dropout rate in the second year was observed even in cases where performance was the same. Institutions should implement programs oriented toward promoting students’ academic and social integration in the university taking structural inequalities into account, as well as the effort and resilience of students.