College Search Behaviors and Application Decisions in African American Adolescents (2011)

Undergraduates: Taya Walston, Taya L. Walston Tanee Hudgens

Faculty Advisor: Beth Kurtz-Costes
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Parental and child factors were examined as predictors of youth college decisions in 70 African American 12th grade youth. Parental income and education and youth gender and educational expectations were examined as predictors of youth participation in college search behaviors. Contrary to study hypotheses, parental education and youth gender were not related to youth engagement in college search behaviors. Youth from wealthier families and youth who expected to attend college were more likely to engage in college search behaviors. Of those students who desired to apply to a four-year post-secondary institution, factors that influenced a student's preference to apply to a Historically Black College/University or Predominately White Institution were examined. Youth gender, racial centrality, and racial socialization experiences were not related to these college preferences. The importance of college search behaviors among African American youth is discussed.