Roles of gender, race, and SES in the college choice process among first-generation and nonfirst-generation students.

Abstract

The authors examined students' reports of their college choice process to understand the influence of a set of psychological, personal, and institutional factors. The authors also examined potential moderating influences of generational status, gender, race, and SES on our variables of interest. A diverse sample of college freshmen (N ϭ 1,339), including 42% who were the first in their families to attend college, responded to a self-reporting, Web-based survey. Findings indicate that psychosocial factors and academic quality of the college were most influential for first-generation students as compared to their nonfirst-generation peers in the college choice process. However, gender, race, and SES moderated these influences in complex ways. For example, females rated the psychological variables higher than males; Asian American and African American first-generation students rated higher than their parents' preferences for which college to attend as compared to nonfirst-generation peers. First-generation females, African American in particular, considered academic quality more important than other groups. Our findings should be of value to counselors and other personnel who facilitate students' college choice process as well as college recruitment, retention, and diversity enhancement programs.

Determinants of College and University Choice for High-School Students in Qatar

“…Past studies investigating the college/university selection process generally show that gender is a significant source of influence in the choice decisions of students, and gender gaps have been found to affect male and female student choice and aspiration for college/university enrollment (Ceja, 2001;Cho et al, 2008;Perez & McDonough, 2008). The study findings support those studies, and indicate a significant and positive correlation between student gender and determinants of college/university choice.…”

Community College Choice and the Role of Undermatching in the Lives of African Americans

“…A historic and growing body of literature has focused on college choice (Galotti, 1995;Hossler, Braxton, & Coopersmith, 1989;Hossler, Schmit, & Vesper, 1999;Cho et al, 2008) and recently attention has been given to the college choices of students of color Freeman, 2005;McDonough, 1997;Smith, 2012). What is now at the forefront of higher education research is college completion and determining what institutional and personal factors put a student in the best position to not only attend college but finish.…”

“…Gallagher Model of college student choice was not the first college choice model developed (Kolter, 1976;, Hanson & Litten, 1982Jackson, 1982); it has proved to be popular as it has been reiterated by several other studies (Galotti, 1995;Hossler, Braxton, & Coopersmith, 1989;Hossler, Schmit, & Vesper, 1999;Cho et al, 2008). It has also been used to understand the influences of socioeconomic status, family influences, earning potential, and race in the choice decision-making process for diverse student populations…”

Narratives from non-traditional students in higher education

“…In the US, students from low SES groups also worried more about debt and their financial situations (Bui, 2002). They considered this when choosing an institution, as did FG females and ethnic minority groups (Cho, Hudley, Lee, Barry & Kelly, 2008). In the US, this has seen marginalised students more often attending 'commuter' and two year community colleges (Cabrera & La Nasa, 2000) in proximity to the family home.…”

“…Choices are (and are perceived as) limited for students from non-traditional backgrounds (Cho et al, 2008;Dunnett et al, 2012;Leathwood & O'Connell, 2003). The mature students (Chapter 5) present a specific case.…”