Publication Date

2012-05-30

Availability

Open access

Embargo Period

2012-05-30

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology (Arts and Sciences)

Date of Defense

2012-05-24

First Committee Member

Jomills H. Braddock II

Second Committee Member

Marvin P. Dawkins

Third Committee Member

Koren A. Bedeau

Abstract

Most research on educational plans has focused on high school students’ plans for college. Few studies have examined graduate or professional school plans among college students. This thesis uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen (NLSF) to examine: (1) racial and ethnic variations in graduate or professional school plans; and (2) the effect of race-ethnicity on graduate or professional school plans relative to other factors such as sex, SES, college type, parents’ aspirations, peer aspirations and students’ evaluation of college experiences. It also provides detailed analyses of the graduate or professional school plans of the Asian subgroups. Results indicate that race is not a significant predictor of college students’ plans for graduate or professional school. Peer aspirations negatively influence college students’ plans for graduate or professional school, and students’ evaluation of college experiences positively influences their plans. Analyses of the Asian subgroups indicate that there are no statistically significant differences between the subgroups. The results imply that faculty, student affairs personnel, graduate school administrators and all relevant departments should make joint efforts to enhance students’ self-esteem and their college experiences.

Keywords

Graduate School Plans; College Students; Race; Asian American

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