With the adaptation to the EHEA, the current university system in Spain is characterized by, among others, a learning approach more focused in the student than in the teacher. This implies a methodological change both in teaching and student training in competencies and skills. Therefore, it is important that the student attends to classes and participates actively in them assuming the leading role of the learning process.

The present work is part of a wider research on the best freshmen and their practices at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)[1]. We show the outcome of their evaluations about the personal learning process in which they are involved in order to obtain the better academic records. We have analyzed the reasons involved in the choice of a degree and a university. We have also considered the factors that facilitate the integration in the school and in the university. On the other hand, we have also studied their assessment about teachers, classes, subjects, classmates, and themselves.

Firstly, we have analyzed which factors are involved with classes: which classes are the most valued ones, which characteristics have the worst ones, their own attitude, and their own impressions about university classes. Secondly, we have considered topics related to the preparation of classes: time dedicated out of the sessions, previous knowledge required, and time spent in other non-academic tasks related with the subjects.

[1] [1] Research Project “La excelencia en los estudiantes universitarios desde un enfoque longitudinal: Análisis de factores incidentes y diseño de un modelo de intervención”, supported by MICIN, reference EDU2009-08518 directed by Bernardo Gargallo.

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