Examined accuracy of 5 background characteristics, 9 extracurricular activities, and 15 special accomplishments reported by college-bound high school students completing the American College Testing Assessment Student Profile Section. Results revealed relatively high level of accuracy of self-reported data. (Author/NB)

Repeat test takers (n=2,821) at five administrations of the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test, a college entrance examination for adults, were studied to determine the effects of practice on test results. Repeaters score higher on the second testing, with the biggest gains on three subtests. (SLD)

Based on a panel given at the 1991 National Association of College Admission Counselor conference, this article discusses the role of parents in the college admission process, considering how counselors can work effectively with parents as a team and how colleges can involve parents in a collaborative way that frees the student to choose and the…

Examined college choice of 92 academically talented students selected as 1987 Wisconsin All State Academic Scholars. Explored student characteristics and motivation; the influence of individuals, parents, friends, and high school personnel; and university influences. Findings led to recommendations for states wishing to attract and retain their…

Discusses the competition by the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities for the top black students. The paper examines guidelines for student financial aid packages and some schools' recruitment tactics. (GLR)

Addresses pressure placed upon college admission offices, arguing that admissions staff are evaluated, not by what they do or how well they do it, but by numbers: how many first-year students, transfer students, and minority students have enrolled; and how one year's enrollment compares to previous year's enrollment. Urges working toward practice…

Examines process of college admission and recruitment activities to assure that colleges and universities recruit the best students for their campuses. Describes how to find the most desirable prospect pool for the college and how to recruit students from this pool. Offers suggestions to help assure the best fit for both the student and the…

University associate director of admission shares his theory on a better way to visualize an applicant's qualifications while quickly determining the applicants the university in particular should accept by individualizing the admission rating system. Discusses how to define the ideal applicant, establish an admission philosophy, prioritize rating…

Presents three papers that offer advice to college-bound students and their parents. The first suggests that the more prestigious the academic institution, the more decadent the intellectual and social milieu. The second argues that higher education is best when it is local. The third warns students to keep learning outside the college…

Due to problems with academic achievement in public schools, college entrance requirements are not what they were (except in the most elite institutions), and college graduates are not as well educated as they should be. Pre-collegiate standards will be raised only if colleges are willing to say no to unprepared students and if high school…

Survey responses of college-bound high school seniors (n=198) found most respondents viewed successful postgraduate careers as very important to the perception of an institution's academic reputation. Three factors described student perception of academic reputation: academic concerns, campus ethos, and practical value. Also, three factors were…

Finds that while more college-bound students are utilizing the early decision process, many others are delaying their decision until the last possible moment. Reasons cited include rising costs, need for more financial aid, and increasing selectivity. Notes that increased number of students graduating from high school and booming economy have made…

Presents four steps to help families avoid the pitfalls of college selection by keeping their options open and focusing on the teen before beginning the search. The steps involve: debunking several myths about college selection; keeping teens' needs and interests in mind; preparing a shopping list before entering the college supermarket; and…

Lists recent ERIC resources that show how community college transfer students perform on a number of measures, including grade point average, student satisfaction, and social adjustment to the different culture of four-year institutions. States that the citations will aid administrators and scholars, as well as counselors attempting to prepare…

This study was based in data from a national survey used to examine the extent to which precollege outreach programs contain components that address the known predictors of college enrollment. The analyses show that only one fourth of programs targeting historically underrepresented groups contain components that correspond to five of the most…