Towards a Theory of Choice for Community College Students

Somers, Patrícia; Haines, Kevin; Keene, Barbara; Bauer, Jon; Pfeiffer, Marcia; McCluskey, Jennifer; Settle, Jim; Sparks, Brad

doi:10.1080/10668920500248886

Cited by 63 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…This finding is consistent with both general college choice literature as well as community college choice specific literature (Somers et al, 2006). While the cost of higher education undoubtedly played a role in their decision to attend a community college, it affected them in different ways.…”

Section: Cost Of College and Financial Literacysupporting

confidence: 81%

“…I wanted to go out of the state so my mom was like get a volleyball scholarship and you can go but if not, I'm not paying that or that's all on you so it was either that or a community college. So once I did not get recruited or offered a scholarship anywhere, I knew I had to go to a community college.In most college choice literature, location serves as an influence to college choice; most students want to remain close to home or work Somers et al, 2006).However in this study, many of the participants made the choice to attend a community college because of the opportunity to still live at home and have continued support from their family.Several students valued the curfews and home cooked meals that their parents provided andwere not ready to give that up. As a result, they decided to attend a community college.…”

mentioning

confidence: 68%

“…In most college choice literature, location serves as an influence to college choice; most students want to remain close to home or work Somers et al, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No longer home to only the less affluent or academically underprepared (Cohen & Brawer, 2008), community colleges also serve as the first college of choice to students who will become future lawyers, doctors, scientists, and engineers (Townsend, 2009). Prevalent reasons that students choose to attend community colleges include proximity and course scheduling flexibility as well as college preparation and 1 cost of attendance (Kurlaender, 2006;Somers et al, 2006;Townsend, 2009). Scholars also suggest that students may choose to attend a community college as a result of an educational system that prepares students for destinations that match their family background (Hallinan, 2000;Kurlaender, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community College Choice and the Role of Undermatching in the Lives of African Americans

Lowry

2016

Community College Journal of Research and Practice

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This study explored why academically qualified African American students, those eligible to attend four-year institutions, choose to attend community colleges and are, thereby, undermatched. This qualitative study investigated how these students navigated the college choice process, what influenced their decision to attend a community college, what their experience at a community college was like, and their aspirations to obtain a baccalaureate degree. Purposeful sampling was used to gather a sample of 19 African American students attending community college in Dallas, Texas. The sample included 14 females and five males.Data were collected through 40-60 minute semi-structured interviews and a brief demographic survey. The conceptual frameworks for this study included Kassie Freeman's predetermination model that includes cultural considerations in college choice and the Somers et al. model that addresses factors that increase the likelihood of a student choosing to attend a community college. This integrated framework captures the role that family and culture play in African American community college choice.Findings suggest that the community college choice influences for academically eligible African American students vary from traditional college choice models. Whereas factors such as cost, location, and the role of peers played somewhat of a role in their choice, participants were also heavily influenced by sports, self-perceptions of maturity, and the perceptions of their families. Another key finding was that the effects of undermatching vary. All of the participants in this study felt that attending a community college fostered transfer preparedness, supported personal development, and promoted their academic success. However, some of the participants also felt that attending a community college hindered their sense of autonomy and limited their social engagement. This variation leads to the conclusion that undermatching effects vary and are dependent upon a variety of contextual factors. Policy and practice recommendations are provided for parents, teachers, counselors, and higher education professionals.Copyright 2014 by Kimberly M. Lowry ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First I would like to thank God for the opportunity he has given me to pursue this degree not only for myself but for my family, friends and my community. I am grateful for his unconditional love, grace and faithfulness and know that it is through him that I have accomplished things I could have only dreamed of. Next I would like to thank my entire dissertation committee for providing me with guidance and support. Specifically, I would like to thank Dr. Amy Fann for her leadership and dedication to aspiring scholars, like myself, and to higher education as a whole. Dr. Fann you are truly amazing and thank you again for everything.I would also like to thank and acknowledge my parents and grandparents for every prayer they made on behalf of me and my future. It is because of them that I am who I am today and for that I am truly thankful. My other supp...

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Section: Cost Of College and Financial Literacysupporting

confidence: 81%

mentioning

confidence: 68%

“…In most college choice literature, location serves as an influence to college choice; most students want to remain close to home or work Somers et al, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community College Choice and the Role of Undermatching in the Lives of African Americans

Lowry

2016

Community College Journal of Research and Practice

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“…According to the authors, the theories are related to general consumption behavior and decision making models. The literature on students' decision making processes that are at play while they are choosing a university explains the university selection factors with the economic model, the status-attainment model and the combined model within the sociological and economic theoretical framework (Hearn, 1984;Jackson, 1978;Tierney, 1983;Somers, Haines, & Kene, 2006). University selection can be defined as a multi-stage process which follows the formal high school program once the student decides to continue his or her education in a certain faculty, university or vocational school of higher education.…”

Section: Yapılandırılmışmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between University Choice Desicion, Academic Reputation and Social Activities: Example of Undergraduate Students of Akdeniz and Eskişehir Osmangazi Universities

Apaydın¹,

Kapucu

2017

Educational Administration: Theory and Practice

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ÖzBu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye'deki kamu üniversitelerini seçen öğrencilerin tercih nedenlerini belirlemektir. Buna bağlı olarak kamu üniversitelerini tercih eden öğrencilerin seçimlerini hangi faktörlerin ne derece etkili olduğu sorusuna da yanıt aranmaktadır. Mevcut çalışma kapsamında öğrencilerin üniversiteyi seçme kararlarını etkileyen faktörler modellenmiştir. Araştırma ilişkisel tarama modelinde yürütülmüş, hedef evreni temsil etmek üzere Biglan sınıflandırma tekniği uygulanmıştır. AbstractThe purpose of this study was to reveal the factors influencing students' choice of a public university to study. It also aims to reveal the extent to which these factors were influential. The factors influencing students' university choice were modelled. The study was conducted in relational survey model, and Biglan classification scheme was used to represent the target population. The participants of the study are composed of 591 and 453 first-year students from Akdeniz University and Osmangazi University, respectively. University Choice, Social Activities, and Academic Reputation scales developed by the researchers were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 and LISREL 8.70 statistical software packages. The results of the study reveal that the factors influencing first year students' choice of university are the students who are already studying at the university, financial opportunities offered by the university, acquaintances, the cost of education, being informed about the university, job opportunities, the impact of high school education and geographical position, respectively. According to the model, social activities and academic reputation directly affect university choice. As the participation in social activity increases, the perception of academic reputation also increases.

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The Role of Families in Latinx College Choice

Olivarez

2020

New Drctns Community Coll

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Towards a Theory of Choice for Community College Students

Cited by 63 publications

References 8 publications

Community College Choice and the Role of Undermatching in the Lives of African Americans

Community College Choice and the Role of Undermatching in the Lives of African Americans

The Relationship between University Choice Desicion, Academic Reputation and Social Activities: Example of Undergraduate Students of Akdeniz and Eskişehir Osmangazi Universities

The Role of Families in Latinx College Choice

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