In 1981, community college enrollments increased by 3.2 percent. Nearly all the growth has come in career, compensatory, and community education rather than in traditional college studies. Liberal arts must be fit to the realities of an institution and a reformation of instruction in the liberal arts is proposed. (MLW)

Compares the probable success of completing a bachelor's degree between students who began at two-year colleges and those who began at four-year colleges. Findings suggest that two-year college students perceived themselves as less likely to succeed, and students transferring to four-year colleges were less likely to complete degrees. (AM)

Hypothesizes that consistent parent encouragement through secondary school years is an important cause of students aspiring towards higher education and entering four-year colleges. Findings supported the hypothesis. (AM)

Analyzed the structure of the admissions process and developed a system which utilizes the admissions computer database to give more comprehensive and consistent estimates. This system makes the computer a tool for admissions decision making, rather than just a reservoir of data. (Author)

Looks at four sources for measuring national student performance: (1) the National Assessment of Educational Progress study of basic skills; (2) competency testing in reading, writing, and arithmetic; (3) college entrance examination scores; and (4) rates of educational attainment by sex, race, ability level, and socioeconomic status. (SK)

A survey of 2,500 applicants accepted at Boston College in 1977 is used to develop two statistical models of student decision making for college choice. One model focuses on the decision-making process and the other on institutional image, and the two are compared. The results of the two models guide institutional policy in different directions.…

The IDP (Immediate Decision plan) seeks to eliminate the artificial delay between application and acceptance to or rejection from college. It was designed to help the student make a more informed choice about college attendance. This study is an evaluation of the Bard program two years after its inception. (Author)

This study compares the college expectations of freshmen with the perceptions of upperclassmen, using the College Characteristics Index. It also compares the expectations of freshmen who had taken college courses during high school with those of other entering freshmen. (Author)

High school counselor attitudes toward early college entry were sought in a questionnaire survey. Most counselors said they would not discourage a qualified student wishing to enter college early, but a significant minority did express concern about the wisdom of early college entry. (Author)

Describes a program wherein school counselors provided structured group counseling interventions to soon-to-be high school graduates. Grouped students under three transition types: four-year college group, two-year college group, and military group. Claims that school counselors must help graduates understand apprehensions and plan for the future.…

Programs guaranteeing college-bound high school students admission to medical school based on anticipated high college grades are now offered by 33 medical schools; some of the programs are 20-30 years old. Originally intended to make medical careers more attractive, the policy is now used more commonly to recruit high-achieving undergraduate…

Examined personal narratives of struggle with schooling from working class Latino parents whose children were in an experimental college access program at a diverse metropolitan high school. Three narrative types emerged: life stories of parents' own struggles as students; stories of bureaucratic rebuff in parents' encounters with staff in their…

Reviews controversial results of Harvard University study on efficacy of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) coaching services and similar study done by Philadelphia Area Counselors in Independent Schools. Results showed average total score gain of only 15 points by participation in commercial SAT preparation course. Concludes that coaching services…

Projected college enrollment changes due to fluctuating high school graduation rates during the next decade are raising sensitive political issues concerning state resource allocation, planning errors, and ways to either increase high school retention or increase college access. (MSE)

Proposes a new definition of transfer rate (i.e., number of transfers/total credit enrollment x 100) and a new way of measuring transfer effectiveness (i.e., number of students who transfer/number of students expected to transfer). (DMM)