How black students select four-year colleges: an examination of the decision-making process

The question of how black students select four year colleges in Virginia was addressed by analyzing factors which influence their decisions: socio-economic status, proximity of college to home, and criteria for college selection. Attention was directed to the role of information networks in the decision-making process and corresponding relationships between informal versus formal network use, college selected, socio-economic status, and distance. Results indicated few differences among students with regard to criteria for selection. Black students appear to maximize both educational and job opportunities in their selection of colleges and curricula to the extent that personal resources allow. Students surveyed at traditionally white institutions (TWI's) showed reliance on formal educational networks, particularly college recruitment representatives. In contrast, students who selected a traditionally black institution (TBI) solicited college information from informal interpersonal networks, friends in college, parents and relatives. Three TWI's (Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) and one TBI (Virginia State University) participated in the analysis.