This study examined characteristics of independent educational consultants, who provide a new and rapidly growing service, as well as characteristics of their clients who use these consultants in their college search process. The study used data from the Consultant Survey, which was mailed to 317 independent educational consultants of whom 157…

Using a model of rational student choice as its foundation, this study examined whether state policies toward higher education encourage junior colleges and universities to admit too many students. The optimal-size decisions of budget-maximizing junior colleges and universities were derived and compared to the optimal-size decisions of a social…

Factors that 1983 National Merit and National Achievement Semifinalists in Maryland felt influenced their college choice were studied. The 143 survey respondents were asked to indicate how important 22 factors were in the selection of a college. The factors covered items dealing with the characteristics of the college, efforts by the institution…

An alternative approach to achieve short-time enrollment stabilization based in part on experiences at the State University of New York, Geneseo, is described. It is suggested that a short-range effort will not be enough to assure institutional vitality in the difficult years ahead. Short-range stabilization should be followed by the integration…

The extent to which students are well matched with the universities they attend was investigated. The outcome of the choice process was examined with cross-sectional data on students at two private (Northwestern and Chicago) and one public (Northeastern Illinois) Chicago metropolitan area universities. Between and within school variation in…

The college designations of over 5,800 recent graduates of 60 private secondary schools and the relationships between characteristics of these schools and the average selectivity of the colleges attended for each school were investigated. Aggregating all graduates, the data show considerable success in gaining admission to selective, prestigious…

The number of Hispanic undergraduates enrolled in colleges and universities nationwide increased by 98% during the decade 1985 to 1995. Nevertheless, Hispanic student participation continues to lag behind that of the Caucasian and African-American population. Among high school graduates between 18 and 24, 32% of the Hispanic population was…

This study examined the attitudes of junior and senior studio art majors toward their education and choice of school through analysis of questionnaires completed by 22 students, fieldnotes, and in-depth interviews with 6 students. Students were also questioned concerning what connection they saw between their matriculation and their expectations…

This study examined the process of college choice focusing on the earlier stages of the college choice process among 4,923 high school students (3,110 students participated by returning completed surveys) involving 21 high schools in Indiana. The study attempted to: (1) construct a mid-range model representing the search phase of the college…

In response to rapidly escalating survey response requests from publishers of college guides and magazine rating features, institutional researchers at the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) developed a standard response form. In fact, the extensive research and level of detail that many surveys request require significant effort…

A reliable and valid technique for measuring college participation rates is proposed, based on national data. The objective is to determine if factors other than state demographic factors systematically influence college attendance by state. Multiple regression equations are used to predict enrollments by using demographic variables such as…

Information on a study examining the college choice process for academically talented students is presented, focusing on the University of Wisconsin (UW) System's recruitment of All State Academic Scholars. Recognition for academic excellence is the goal of their All State Scholars Program. UW is concerned about a brain drain from the state…

The Joint First-Stage Achievement Test (JFAT) is a new unified college entrance examination developed in Japan. This report presents the statistical results of the JFAT and the applicants' behavior change which appeared through the first six years of administration from 1979 to 1984. Three major features of the JFAT are described: (1) jointly made…

The focus of this paper is on issues and concepts in the retention and recruitment of Hispanic students in post-secondary education. First, national post-secondary enrollment declines are projected and the implications of these declines are discussed for admissions and recruitment personnel. Next, the report considers Hispanic enrollments in…

A presentation of a conceptual framework for viewing the admissions management process in higher education institutions and a discussion of the pricing policy process, particularly of private colleges and universities, precedes an examination of the stochastic utility model, a statistical model of the college choice process. Using student choice…