2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A book of unusual scope but it falls a bit short, 2002-09-09
This book reports on studies the authors conducted in Indiana between 1986 and 1994. It examines what may make a high schooler predisposed to attend college, how students search for college opportunities, and what choices they ultimately make upon graduation from high school. Finally, it reviews what the study's participants actually did do in the four years following high school.In addition to outlining findings from these surveys, Going to College also reports in greater depth on interviews with eight students. While relatively interesting, the interviews are not the most beneficial part of the book. Even the surveys, the book acknowledges, may be somewhat limited in their value. For instance, some results may not be useful to people in other parts of the country. The study is set in Indiana, where the average parental income and educational levels are in the bottom half of the fifty states.
Nonetheless, Going to College contains a number of interesting conclusions and statements. For example, the study discovered that seven of ten sophomores who said they planned to attend a college of some sort did actually matriculate in college after high school. However, only 35% of the students surveyed ended up attending one of the colleges they were considering in the tenth grade year.
Going to College also tries to determine what characteristics may "predict" whether or not a high schooler will end up attending college. The role of parents seems to be a key predictor. The authors found that toward the beginning of the college selection process--during the early high school years--the encouragement of parents is most likely to determine whether or not a student has college aspirations. Sixty-four percent of students who received strong encouragement from their parents attended a four-year college (p. 102). The parents' level of educational attainment also makes a difference. As that level increases, children are more likely to go to college. Seventy-five percent of students whose parents had a college degree actually enrolled in college (p. 104).
The second strongest indicator of college aspirations is the students' high school grade point average. Ninety-one percent of A students plan to attend a four-year college and 65% of B students do, but only 28% of C students expect to go to college (p. 106).
Going to College represents the type of research that most college and university enrollment managers would love to conduct: A longitudinal study that traces students' and parents' attitudes, influences and goals through the high school years and beyond. Unfortunately, the results of this particular study are somewhat limited.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Great contributed research : Required for all parents, 2001-04-25
I'm not in an education area, I'm an engineer though. I bought this book to see research in educational or social science on impat of high school students choosing their higher education. After reading "preface", I was stunned for the research had been conducted for "9" years! This book is very important for any parents. The college may be for your children at 17-18, but this book will tell you how important you are to support them; not only when they go to College but much before (e.g., sixth grade). I'm glad I read this book before I have my own child. What more surprising me is the book organization. This book was well written and organized. The structure is easy to follow. For each case study, the conclusion was drawn. Their research factors/questions were well defined. I wasn't surprised to see the outcome of their research. What annoy me is the keeping-talking of statistics tool. While it's important, the writing and research are more important. It's quite disappointed me.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Short read but not a true primer on college choice, 2000-08-18
Don Hossler is probably the most prolific writer on admissions and enrollment management in the last two decades, and, in my opinion, the best. This book, written with two co-authors, though, disappoints a little bit.
If you're looking for a basic overview on how students select colleges, try Hossler's other work or that of others on the structure of college choice. Avoid the mass-market "choosing a college" books that are targeted to over-anxious students and parents.
The core of the book describes a longitudinal study the authors did on Indiana high school students. While the stats and ancedotes do a fine job helping the reader to understand the process *these students* were going through, it's difficult to read and not think "how would this apply to other students? Does it at all?"
There is a worthy summary of the current theory and models of student college choice in the closing chapters. My advice, if you read this book, is to start with the generalized information in the back and then read the rest of the book from page one.