A student's decision to go to college and then to enroll is affected by several factors, including: his or her ability and achievement; motivations, tastes, and aspirations; the costs; and college characteristics. (Author/PG)

The "U.S. News and World Report" rankings of colleges do not affect institutions equally; the schools impacted most are those that have the most to lose because they benefit from, even rely on, the rankings for prestige and visibility. The magazine relies on the rankings for substantial sales revenues, and has garnered considerable power…

Fifteen guides to college choice and admission are described and their characteristics and special uses are noted. The guides include primary, secondary, and "insider" sources. Some are traditional information sources for college-bound students, and some are newer publications. (MSE)

An on-going survey of incoming freshmen shows that Hispanics are taking on the characteristics of college students in general. College selection, academic goals, nonacademic goals, and attitudes on social and political issues are discussed. (MLW)

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching conducted a nationwide survey of high school seniors and their parents. Parents and how they shape their youngsters' post-high school plans, the qualities they look for in a college, and what they expect their children to gain are discussed. (MLW)

Students are eager to attend a college with the reputation or programs they believe will lead to high-paying jobs and top professional schools. Student attitudes as they affect choice of college, patterns of study, and attention to learning are discussed. (MLW)

The obstacles to aid-and-access research on minority students include: inadequate models of the decision process, heterogeneous subpopulations, and the momentary equality of 1977. Until research yields qualitative knowledge of why similarly situated teenagers make different decisions about college, analysis of minority aid-and-entry decisions will…

While the primary issue in the future of college student financial aid, pertaining especially to the role of the College Scholarship Service, is fairness in awarding aid in the context of extreme college aid competition, other issues include college quality and choice, who should pay for education, parental responsibility, educational…

Results of a national survey of college students concerning the relative usefulness or role of publications and individuals in choosing a college are presented and discussed. (MSE)

How to identify and measure educational quality pervades American education. The Higher Education Research Institute and the Council on Learning launched a study to identify broad quality indicators, particularly at the undergraduate level. Peer groups and indices of selectivity are among the facets used to measure quality of education. (MLW)