The NY Times summarizes a report by a couple of Harvard economists who examined the college application patterns of students at different income levels. One of their disturbing conclusions is that students in the bottom quartile of family income and who would qualify for admission to selective colleges (but which may be far from home) apply to such colleges at far lower rates than students in the highest quartile. The following figure captures the main point: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/03/17/education/How-Top-Students-of-Different-Incomes-Apply-for-College.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130317 The NY Times article can be accessed here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/education/scholarly-poor-often-overlook-better-colleges.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130317&_r=0
The research article that the NY Times article is based on can be accessed here: http://www.nber.org/papers/w18586 NOTE: Abstract is free but the actual paper costs $5. A version of the report is to be published in the Brookings Institution journal "Brookings Papers on Economic Activity"; see: http://www.brookings.edu/about/projects/bpea One unexamined implications of Hixby and Avery's analysis is that "nonselective" and state colleges and universities probably have many more talented students than one would predict because so few talented but poor students apply to selective colleges. An implication that some college professors appreciate. However, there may be significant long-term consequences of not applying to selective colleges if one is qualified for them especially for psychology majors: it will probably affect which graduate program they may be able to get into. And as I have previously pointed out, there is research that shows whether psychology Ph.D.s get jobs after they graduate depends upon where they got their degree; see: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg09706.html -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=24382 or send a blank email to leave-24382-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
