Each month, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) surveys a random sample of individuals who three months prior registered on mba.com--the GMAC™ website for prospective graduate business students. Their survey responses provide an inside look into the decision-making process of people currently considering applying to a graduate…

Despite numerous criticisms of the UK National Student Survey (NSS) institutional managers still strongly support its use in informing student choice, quality and assurance and quality enhancement activities. This article outlines a granular and nuanced benchmarking system for the NSS which provides both a "raw" score (weighted student…

This article reports on a survey of the expectations and experiences of first-year students who were enrolled in 2010 on programmes in Art & Design in the United Kingdom. The survey covered 20 institutions and received 778 usable responses. The results indicate considerable variation in both expectations and experiences, and provide a basis…

Every year, many students in the UK fail to achieve a place at their preferred university because they take the wrong A-level subjects. This study aims to suggest a framework for helping students choose the right subjects. Data on student achievement in A-level examinations were obtained from a UK sixth form college over a four-year period.…

This report provides an comprehensive analysis of the way recession is impacting upon graduate outcomes. Data used in this report reflects the current level of applications to higher education (HE) for 2010 entry, but, due to data collection timing differences, the employment and training destinations of the graduating cohorts of 2005/06-2008/09.…

A British study of 12 white males in their last school year found their awareness of labor market conditions poor; they showed little evidence of consumerist behavior in choosing their post-16 path. Some aspects of secondary education were inadequate to prepare them for the labor market. (Contains 50 references.) (SK)

Undergraduate recruitment is a significant activity for all universities. This brief report sets out the results of a survey regarding the course and institutional choices of the 2005-06 entry cohort of bioscience students in four universities. The key findings show that enjoyment of the subject and the wish to learn more are the primary reasons…

A study of British students in Years 6, 10, and 12 found that they base their understanding of careers and work on images from personal experience, adults, and the media. Career decisions are based on pragmatic, opportunistic factors, not well matched with supply and demand. A divergent, holistic approach to guidance should challenge their…

Perceptions of United Kingdom students concerning higher education, student choices of individual programs and institutions, and sources of information were studied in 1982, based on a national survey of over 1,500 student applicants to institutions of higher education, from 50 schools, and backed up by interviews with over 500 of those sampled.…