People tend to assume that the motivations for their behavior--whether choosing a school, buying a car or pursuing a particular career--are readily available to them, waiting to be articulated. But a great deal of new multi-disciplinary research--in psychology, cognition, neuroscience, linguistics, and anthropology--is suggesting otherwise. In…

The topic of distance from home is often discussed when students begin narrowing down colleges they want to apply to; however, there is a scarcity of research actually examining student behavior. The purpose of this study is to address this research gap using data based on a national sample of nearly one million students. Distance was computed in…

In this article, the author shares how choosing a college can be an overwhelming experience. She shares that there are so many choices. Almost every college fits all the requirements she wanted. As such, she decided to stop worrying about college and made a decision to enjoy the high school experience she is living right now.

In her extensive, laborious experience applying to and searching out colleges, the prevailing sensation the author feels is that of being a mutt at a pedigree dog show, praying her little paws off that the judges do not realize how unqualified she is. In reality, the process is slightly less degrading than this description. In this article, the…

There is one thing on every shopping list that any student will be sure to choose accurately: the perfect pair of jeans. Indeed, this ubiquitous wardrobe staple is an important purchase requiring a variety of considerations, many of which correspond to another even more significant decision most students will make in the coming weeks, months or…

Throughout the country and through the years, several colleges and universities have been the focal point of violence and tragedy. These tragedies include the brutal beating and murder of a gay student; a campus bonfire that killed 12 students and alumni; a residence hall fire that claimed the lives of three students; terrorist activities in two…

Many colleges and universities receive thousands of applications for freshman admission every year. To facilitate the process of evaluating each and every applicant in a relatively short amount of time, schools often devise quantitative ratings scales to summarize student characteristics. The ratings give readers a shorthand way to communicate the…

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), originally established to serve as an advocate of ethical practices in the recruitment of students and awarding of scholarship dollars, now recognizes the ethical dilemmas admission counselors face in the current competitive marketplace. This article presents the details of a…

Argues that a perpetual cycle of education deprivation is embedded in our educational system that forces some of the best students into a vocational education path that may not include attending college. Proposes that students must be educated early about the value of a college education and must be aware that they are making decisions with…

Discusses how much of the criticism toward the use of marketing theory in strategic planning for higher education is predicated on the idea that students are unqualified to evaluate the complex and long-term nuances of educational services. A survey of 157 high school seniors finds that students ranked academically related attributes higher in…

Explores the history and current status of college admission and develops an approach to resolve ethical problems. Applies this approach to the need-blind versus aid-blind controversy, an admission situation rooted in the counseling versus recruitment dilemma. (MKA)

Reviews literature on college choice to present information on the criteria students use at three stages of the process of choosing a college. Describes student needs in terms of college characteristics and reports the availability of that information in research or guidebooks. (JAC)

Encourages counselors and students to work together to avoid the one-dimensional application folder. Emphasizes the need for believable, multidimensional applicants in the admissions process. (KS)

Discusses factors which influence the acceptance of particular students at highly competitive colleges. Suggests that admissions officers especially prefer athletes, minority students, and alumni children. Other preferred applicants include school leaders, students with artistic talent or notable personal strengths, and students from wealthy…

Describes a research model that studied the influences of personal characteristics and external factors on applicants' final college choice and assessed the effectiveness of current recruiting resources. Outlines steps in conducting the questionnaire survey, including defining objectives, selecting sample, constructing questionnaire items, and…