REASONS FOR ATTENDING COLLEGEChris Fadule

Researchers at Old Dominion University developed the Transition to College Inventory (TCI) to identify behavior, attitudes and attributes of incoming freshmen.

I investigated reasons for choosing to attend college.

“A New Take on What Today’s Students Want from College” by Jeffrey Young

Millenials Go to College by Neil Howe and William Strauss

Today’s incoming students are: Close with their parents Focused on grades and performance Busy with extracurricular activities Eager to take part in community activities Saavy in technology Interested in math and science, less

interested in community activities Demanding of a secure, regulated

environment Respectful of social conventions and

institutions

How must colleges adapt?

Professors should assign more group projects and use technology more in the classroom.

Professors should avoid trying to convert students to different beliefs and should avoid being condescending to them.

Key Concerns for University Presidents Regarding Millenials

Campus security Colleges actively marketing security for

first time Co-Purchasing

Colleges need to market to both prospective students and their parents

“helicopter parents”

Reasons 2010 Freshman Chose to Attend College

468 incoming freshman from NEPA participated in survey

Scale response questions Choices ranged from not important, to

somewhat important, to very important

Reasons 2010 Freshman Chose to Attend College

The different reasons proposed to the students were: To be able to get a better job To broaden my perspectives To get away from home To be able to make more money To learn more about things which interest me To attain feelings of accomplishment and self-

confidence To develop and use my athletic skills To prepare myself for graduate or professional school To participate in college social life To develop interpersonal skills

1%

6%

94%

To Be Able to Get a Better Job

Not Important Somewhat ImportantVery Important

32%

45%

23%

To Get Away from Home

Not Important Somewhat ImportantVery Important

Less than 1%

6%

44%50%

To Participate in College Social Life

No Response Not ImportantSomewhat Important Very Important

3%

34%

63%

To Broaden My Perspectives

Not Important Somewhat ImportantVery Important

0%

43%

29%

27%

To Develop and Use My Athletic Skills

Not Important Somewhat ImportantVery Important

Conclusions and Major Findings Being able to get better jobs was the

most popular reason for attending college (94% Very Important)

Being able to develop and use my athletic skills was the least popular choice (43% Not Important)

Conclusions and Major Findings Risky Behaviors:

To get away from home To participate in college social life To develop and use athletic skills (for

those hoping to play professionally)

Conclusions and Major Findings Most students go to school for the right

reasons – to further their educations and to better themselves in the hopes of attaining a good career (one that is lucrative and that they enjoy).

Local college administrators shouldn’t worry about this incoming group of students because, for the most part, they are attending college for the right reasons.

References

Reasons for Attending College (A Look at 2010 College Freshman in NEPA). 2010 Survey.

Young, Jeffrey. The Chronicle of Higher

Education. 30 January 2003. “A New Take

on What Today’s Students Want from College.”