A college education is becoming more of the norm than in the past. However, choosing the right college or university setting can be a challenge, especially for students in minority- groups.
In December, the national Postsecondary Education Cooperative released its report, “Deciding on Postsecondary Education: Final Report.”
The analysis was qualitative, and not quantitative, but included both a literature review on the topic and an analysis on several minority focus groups. The findings from the focus groups reviewed the various methods minority students use to make informed decisions on their postsecondary education. The students who were interviewed in the focus groups were in the process of searching for a college and making decisions about attending.
In addition, the report focused specifically on underserved students, including minority, low- to moderate- socioeconomic class and students older than 22.
Westat, a contract research organization, conducted both the literature review and the 11 focus groups, which had approximately 90 total participants. The literature review examining over 80 sources revealed that the principal resources for college information came from guidance counselors, media and college brochures/marketing, as well as parents.
For new high school graduates, web-online based resources were the predominant sources for researching on institutions. Parents continue to play the most vital role in the decision making for all students, regardless of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). However, both Hispanic and African-American students were more susceptible to public relations materials and advertisements in their communities than students of other racial/ethnic groups.
Overall, students applied and chose institutions based on three main areas: convenience/location, cost, and major/programs of study at the university. For students of traditional age (18-22), enrollment is strongly influenced by parental encouragement, student achievement in high school and parents’ educational level.
