College Choice in America

Charles F. Manski; David A. Wise

Published by Harvard University Press 2013

College Choice in America

Charles F. Manski and David A. Wise

In collaboration with: Winship C. Fuller and Steven F. Venti

https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674422285

Overview
Contents

About this book

The most crucial choice a high school graduate makes is whether to attend college or to go to work. Here is the most sophisticated study of the complexities behind that decision.

Based on a unique data set of nearly 23,000 seniors from more than 1,300 high schools who were tracked over several years, the book treats the following questions in detail: Who goes to college? Does low family income prevent some young people from enrolling, or does scholarship aid offset financial need? How important are scholastic aptitude scores, high school class rank, race, and socioeconomic background in determining college applications and admissions? Do test scores predict success in higher education?

Using the data from the National Longitudinal Study of the Class of 1972, the authors present a set of interrelated analyses of student and institutional behavior, each focused on a particular aspect of the process of choosing and being chosen by a college. Among their interesting findings: most high school graduates would be admitted to some four-year college of average quality, were they to apply; applicants do not necessarily prefer the highest-quality school; high school class rank and SAT scores are equally important in college admissions; federal scholarship aid has had only a small effect on enrollments at four-year colleges but a much stronger effect on attendance at two-year colleges; the attention paid to SAT scores in admissions is commensurate with the power of the scores in predicting persistence to a degree. This clearly written book is an important source of information on a perpetually interesting topic.

Author information

ManskiCharles F.:

Charles F. Manski is Board of Trustees Professor of Economics at Northwestern University.

Frontmatter Accessible Download PDF	i
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	vii
Contents Accessible Download PDF	ix
Introduction Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	1
1. Overall Findings Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	4
2. Econometric Modeling of Student Behavior Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	26
3. From High School Graduation to School and Work Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	43
4. Application and Admission Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	67
5. The Allocation of Discretionary Grant Aid Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	91
6. Selecting a Postsecondary School Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	105
7. Enrollment Effects of the BEOG Program Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	118
8. College Attendance versus College Completion Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	129
Conclusion Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	159
Appendixes, Notes, References, Index,
APPENDIX Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	164
Notes Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	200
References Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	210
Index Requires Authentication Accessible Download PDF	215

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Edition: Reprint 2014
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 221
Illustrations
- Other: illustrations
Keywords: SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General; EDUCATION / General; College choice.; Universities and colleges -- United States.

eBook

Published: October 1, 2013
ISBN: 9780674422285

Hardcover

Published: February 5, 1983
ISBN: 9780674422278