University of Virginia Library

Study Reveals More Seniors Desire To Attend College

By DEBBY DENNO

Focusing on the post graduation plans
of Virginia high school seniors in the top
25 per cent of their graduating classes,
researchers at the University are relating
data compiled by the Virginia State
Department of Education to the student's
sex, College Board scores and the type of
high school attended.

According to the researchers, class rank is
"generally regarded as a highly significant index
of academic potential," so that the seniors at
the top of their class "represent, as a group,
those most likely to succeed in college."

The study reports that of the 13,049 seniors
92 per cent of the males and 77 per cent of the
females were intent on going to college.

Based on a comparison between the recent
survey with one conducted in 1956 it was found
that 69 per cent of the top-quarter seniors
planned to enter college.

The 1956 report was conducted by M.
Howard Bryant, who is now a professor of
education at the University. The percentage
acquired related to white students only, while
the 1970 per cent applies to students of all
races. This is very significant, according to the
researchers. The 1970 education department
survey asked the students not planning to
attend college to cite the reasons for their
decision. Of this group, 191 boys and 1,028
girls replied.

The largest percentage of girls (40 per cent)
responded that additional education was not
necessary for their career goals, while 43 per
cent of the men simply expressed no intention
of going to college. The lack of funds and the
need to earn money immediately were other
factors mentioned.

A smaller percentage (73 per cent) of
top-quarter seniors from rural high schools were
interested in attending college in comparison
with those students from urban areas (87 per
cent). Only eight top-quarter seniors believed
that their grades were inadequate for college
attendance.

Two year colleges are becoming more
popular with high school seniors in general, due
to their growth within the State as evidenced
by the report.