![Sample our Education journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5932/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Education.jpg"})
Abstract
Less privileged students disproportionately aim low with their university applications and often fail to apply to the institutions that match their academic qualifications. Little attention, however, has been directed toward the converse phenomenon, that of aiming high. These kinds of applications are commonly called ‘reaches,’ meaning an applicant’s credentials fall slightly below the institution’s range for the average first-year student. Using nationally representative survey data from the United States, this study examines whether social background predicts the likelihood of applying to reach institutions and assesses the consequences for disparities in enrollments. We find a strong relationship between students’ socioeconomic background and their likelihood of applying to reach institutions, even after controlling for a range of academic and non-academic characteristics. Further, there is a substantial pay-off to applying to reach institutions, revealing the degree to which these class-based choices at the application stage contribute to the social stratification of higher education.
Disclosure statement
This study did not involve conflicts of interest.
Notes
1. For examples, see: http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/how-many and https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/how-to-finalize-your-college-list-admissions-college-application. Accessed August 15, 2019.
2. See, for example: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-reach-school-788442. Accessed August 15, 2019.
3. We rely on admissions test scores for this construct because these have been found to be increasingly important in admissions decisions (Alon and Tienda Citation2007). Further, because high schools vary in their grading metrics, GPA is not standardized across high schools. Accessed 15. August 2019.