This study examined the extent to which the relative influence on college investment decisions of economic, academic, structural, social, and cultural capital varied by racial/ethnic group. Data from the third (1994) follow-up to the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 were used. The adjusted weighted sample included 11,933 individuals…

This paper reviews and critiques empirical evidence concerning knowledge gaps and misconceptions among secondary school students, parents/guardians, and educators about postsecondary education and student financial assistance opportunities and prerequisites, in particular, how Michigan's middle school based Project Awareness may affect student…

A number of tables present data on the changing characteristics of high school students taking the American College Testing Program examination (ACT), and on the declining ACT scores, from 1970 to 1975. A brief research review indicates that the observed declines are not merely a result of the tests themselves. The author suggests these…

National normative data on disabled freshmen who entered college in fall 1978 and 1980 and comparative data on nondisabled freshmen are presented, based on data collected through the Cooperative Institutional Research Program. Information was obtained from 566 institutions in 1978 and from 540 institutions in 1980. The following institutional…

Responses of approximately 5,000 disabled freshmen who, when they entered college as first-time, full-time students in 1978, completed the Student Information Form (SIF) comprise this longitudinal study of the disabled student in higher education. Contents are as follows: (1) Introduction (overview, methodology, and sample); (2) Comparisons by…

A handbook of terms and definitions for describing students in postsecondary education includes technical and vocational schools as well as various forms of adult education and nontraditional study. Input was gathered from 40 national organizations and 29 federal agencies; 20 organizations and agencies provided field test sites. The guide's…

This study examined the college enrollment decisions of Black and Latino students, focusing on factors that influenced their decision to attend college. Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988-1994 were used, namely a sample of 11,879 seniors who completed high school in 1992, including 1,181 Blacks and 1,505 Latinos. The study…

Information on 1981 high school seniors in the United States or abroad who registered for the Admissions Testing Program (ATP), sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board, is presented. Findings include the following: the number of women taking the (SAT) Scholastic Aptitude Test exceeded that of men for the seventh consecutive year; the…

A bibliography of articles by Alexander W. Astin on the social psychology of higher education is presented. Entries are presented by year, starting with 1980 and dating back to 1956. Topics that are covered include: equal access to higher education, student persistence and attrition, higher education policy, selective admissions and open…

The impact of college on women in a maximum-security prison was examined in a 3-year study of current and former inmates of New York's Bedford Hills Correctional Facility (BHCF). The data sources were as follows: (1) a review of program records; (2) one-on-one interviews of 65 inmates conducted by 15 inmates; (3) focus groups with 43 women in BHCF…

This book presents a collection of papers by educators and researchers who discuss various methods of improving minority student achievement. The 19 chapters highlight the achievement of students from kindergarten through college as follows: (1) "Discrepancies between Aspirations and Preparation of Low SES Elementary Students" (Dianne L.…

The conditions and experiences of black students in higher education in the 1970s are addressed in 27 essays. The essays are categorized in terms of: history and profile; admissions and access; enrollment, academic experience, and career choice; black higher educational survival; recruitment and retention; and structural policies. Among the…

To ensure reliable, accurate, and timely data, which are necessary to monitor the progress of education in the United States, Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report, "The Condition of Education." This year's report presents 59 indicators of important developments and trends…