This study focuses on how social class affects the college experiences and outcomes for African American students in 4-year colleges and universities. Using a national, longitudinal data base, the findings indicate that low SES African American students have less contact with faculty, study less, are less involved with student organizations, work more, and have lower grades than do their high SES peers or all African American students. Furthermore, 9 years after entering college, low SES students report lower incomes, lower rates of degree attainment and lower aspirations than their high SES peers, and were less likely to have attended graduate school. Logistic regression results indicate that sex, college GPA, and plans following college significantly affect the likelihood that a student will attend graduate school.

This study analyzed interviews with over 100 graduate school staff and faculty in 26 disciplines and 20 institutions who use the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE®). The interviews covered admissions and admissions‐related topics, such as recruitment, retention, and measurement of student success in graduate school. Interviewees consider the GRE General Test to be a useful common standard for students with widely differing backgrounds. In contrast, GRE Subject Tests, although considered to be strong evidence of discipline‐specific knowledge, are being used less in a competitive environment. Graduate programs want more information about the language skills – particularly writing and speaking skills – and personal qualities of applicants, and better information about international students.

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of, knowledge regarding, and preparation for standardized college admissions exams of 227 urban African American and Latino high school students. Findings include the students' lack of information about the test and their reliance on their relatively uninformed and unavailable school officials for information, preparation strategies, strategies for achieving high scores, stress level due to the necessity of high test scores, and beliefs that the tests are an unfair obstacle. Students'knowledge of and strategies for preparing and taking the tests are conceptualized as cultural capital and habitus utilizing a Bourdieuian framework.

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