Understanding the Role of Information Utilized by Students in Their College Enrollment and Choice

• In Event: Factors Affecting College Enrollment

Abstract

A partial replication of an earlier study and using multinomial logistic regression and social capital theory, this study explored the relationship between use of different sources of college entrance information and type of postsecondary institution attended. The study was conducted using data from the ELS:2002. The primary independent variables included measured family and peer, school, and college sources of college entrance information.
This study identified patterns of information use based on socioeconomic status, gender, race, and academic achievement. However, results from the multivariate analyses revealed that, after controlling for other variables, reported use of different sources of information has a limited relationship to postsecondary enrollment choices and does not account for observed differences in college enrollment and choice.

Author

• Alyssa M. D'Alconzo, The University of Pennsylvania