| This quantitative study explores college choice factors that influence international graduate students in their decisions to attend graduate programs in the United States. Based on college choice models developed for the study of domestic and undergraduate and graduate students, the study identified academic program and country of citizenship as variables that affect the perception of characteristics of graduate school choice.; Students were asked to complete an online questionnaire that asked about the factors/characteristics that influenced them to select a graduate program in the United States. College choice characteristics were institutional characteristics such as geographic location, size, number of enrolled international students, campus facilities; program characteristics such as number of faculty and friendliness of department staff; marketing and recruitment characteristics such as website, brochures, online application, ease of admissions process; and significant others characteristics such as alumni, parents and family, and friends in the United States. Demographic questions determined gender, age, country of citizenship, and degree and program. The focus of the study was to determine the effect of gender, age, country of citizenship, and academic program on student perception of institutional characteristics, program characteristics, marketing and recruitment characteristics, and significant others characteristics in the college choice.; The study, undertaken in Fall 2005, resulted in a sample size of 329 students from 59 countries at 6 universities. Students were grouped by country, by academic level, gender and age. The academic level analysis included masters' and doctoral level students from social sciences, science and professional programs. Factor analysis determined that the relevant characteristics of college choice for international students were general characteristics, including program and institutional characteristics; recruitment and other influences characteristics including marketing and recruitment characteristics and significant others characteristics; financial characteristics including scholarships and graduate assistantships; and reputation characteristics such as faculty reputation and research opportunities.; Results indicated that general factors were most influential in determining college choice, followed by recruitment and other influences, financial factors, and reputation factors. Job placement opportunities were mentioned in the open-ended response sections as affecting college choice.; Correlation analysis determined that age and gender did not significantly affection perceptions of the four characteristics. Recruitment and other influences factors and financial factors were perceived differently by students based on their academic level including program; and their country of citizenship. Implications for future research were discussed. |
