The goals of a visitation program at a college or university should be to place prospects and their parents in contact with a variety of faculty and students. Faculty members, talking about their programs, and undergraduates, sharing their own experiences, are the institution's best recruiters. (MLW)

A survey of 250 colleges and universities gathered information on the use of market research concerning admitted applicants. Results indicated over half the institutions use market research and offer information about specific methodologies, budgetary support, and use of results. A content analysis of questionnaires used is also presented.…

College campus "tours" offered online have evolved to include 360-degree views, live video, animation, talking tour guides, interactive maps with photographic links, and detailed information about buildings, departments, and programs. Proponents feel they should enhance, not replace, real tours. The synergy between the virtual tour and…

Advice about planning and preparing for campus visits and interviews is provided to college-bound students. The decision of whether or not to go for a campus visit and when to go is covered, along with planning and specific arrangements, such as contacting the admissions office. Also considered are what to look for on campus, how to read a college…

This directory lists colleges and universities in the United States that have special programs or offer special services for students with deafness or hearing impairments. It provides general descriptions of the many programs which are available, lists many of the career areas of study that are offered, and shows which special services are…

A study investigated the importance to 578 applicants of various benefits offered by a moderately selective private university. Applicants rated the institution on 43 academic, social, financial, religious, and curricular attributes. The objective was to test the efficacy of one approach to college market segmentation. Results support the utility…

Higher education administrators often wonder if the information they receive from the low response rates to surveys of non-matriculating applicants accurately reflects the entire population of these non-matriculants. These questions are exacerbated by evidence that response bias does exist. This paper describes how St. Mary's College in Notre…

This publication, the most recent edition of a resource tool for students choosing colleges, makes recommendations for undergraduate programs in about 65 major subjects, most of which are divided among groups of schools based on their selectivity. The ranking of major fields of study was done primarily by students in colleges and universities…

A survey investigated the importance of 22 institutional attributes to 1,574 potential students of a university business school. Effects of student variables (public vs. private high schools, class rank, suburban vs. rural high schools, gender) were also considered. Factor analysis is found useful for research on college choice. (MSE)

This article examines the role of the student with learning disabilities in the transition to postsecondary settings, including participating on the transition planning team, selecting high school classes, evaluating postsecondary options, and enrolling in college. Practical suggestions to support students in this process are offered. (Author/DB)

The effect that winning a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 national championship in football or men's basketball may have upon the quantity and quality of undergraduate admissions applications received by institutions was examined. Between 1979 and 1992, 11 institutions won the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament with two…

Methods for combating declining applicant pools at women's colleges are discussed. Research suggests that effective student recruitment can be facilitated by the use of single-gender market niche as a means for differentiation and parent influence for promotion. Review of strategies currently used indicate these marketing methods are underused and…

The problem associated with validating an admissions test when such validation is based solely on the scores of the accepted, and therefore, restricted, group of applicants is demonstrated. A correction formula that estimates the correlation between admission test scores and a subsequent measure of performance for the entire group of applicants is…

A survey of 19 diverse two- and four-year colleges in Ohio investigated the availability and use of online applications for college admission, parent and student awareness of and planning for financial aid, the perceived value and cost-effectiveness of online aid applications, and public-policy implications relating to the use of technology for…

This guide offers information on undertaking a comprehensive, well-organized, programmatic approach to college planning. "The College Search: Defining the Problem" provides an overview of college-planning problems and offers solutions. A comprehensive, systematic 6-year timeline is included. "Planning for Gifted Students: What Makes Them…