| This study was designed to identify factors related to decisions made by students in rural high schools regarding postsecondary plans, particularly decisions related to college. Principals in such high schools in two predominantly rural states, Mississippi and North Dakota, were surveyed to determine their perceptions of the process by which their students made decisions to attend or not to attend a college or university. Admissions directors at the two largest universities in each state were asked to respond to similar questions from their perspectives as administrators in higher education.;A total of 146 surveys, 50% of those distributed, was returned by rural high school principals in Mississippi and North Dakota. Each of the four admissions directors asked to participate in the study returned the survey instrument.;The results suggest that many rural students make decisions about higher education without professional assistance from high school counselors and with insufficient personal contact from university admissions counselors. Nevertheless, the timing of university recruitment techniques appears to be in line with the decision-making processes of rural students, who have sufficient access to information. As for reasons for nonattendance in higher education, inability to see the benefit of higher education and lack of financial resources were perceived to be primary impediments.;This study highlights the need for efforts to enhance the perceived value of higher education, to increase personal contact, and to establish partnerships between public schools and institutions of higher education for the improvement of educational opportunities for rural high school students. Research efforts should continue to explore the challenges faced by rural students in regard to higher education. |
