Finding competence characteristics among first semester students in computer science

First-year students are often not well equipped with the base competencies that are a necessary precondition for effectively acquiring complex new knowledge. Among others, these base competencies comprise self-organization, analytical thinking, or communication skills. Shortcomings in these competencies often lead to problems in the study process. To solve these problems, we need to investigate the students´ initial competencies, in order to become aware of possible deficits, find ways to deal with them, and thus to enable students to reach their goals. Therefore, we developed a self-assessment on base competencies, an accompanying knowledge test and a questionnaire on personal information. The data collected by these tools was analyzed, searching for competence characteristics which influence whether our students persevere and participate in the final exam, or drop out early. The results of our data analysis support the assumption that both non-technical and technical competencies are crucial to study successfully. Correlation analysis has identified several characteristics which distinguish the students that participate in the exam from those who do not. Based on these results, we suggest ways to optimize university courses, teaching methods, and the support of first-year students to meet their needs.