FAMILY AND PEER INFLUENCES IN COLLEGE PLANS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

Data from 612 students in six midwestern high schools are analyzed to assess the relative effects of socio-economic background and peer influences on their college plans. The analysis reveals that by the end of the senior year of high school, status in the social system of the school contributes more to variation in college plans than does parents' education. These findings challenge the results of several studies which show that the most important source of variation in educational aspirations is the child's socio-economic background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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