Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Social Psychological Applications to Social Issues ((SPAS,volume 3))

Abstract

The choice of college is a complex decision and an important starting point for many young adults. The decision begins the process of higher education, and for many individuals may be their initiation into “adult” choices that have a substantial impact on their future. A “good” choice may mean finding a college in which one will be successful, find enjoyment, make lasting friends, and emerge prepared for a career or graduate school. On the other hand, a poorer choice may result in poor preparation, unhappiness, and a transfer to another college, as well as expensive retraining or more limited academic and career alternatives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bers, T., & Smith, K. (1987). College choice and the nontraditional student. Community College Review, 15, 39–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, D. (1981). A model of student college choice. Journal of Higher Education, 52, 490–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, R. (1984). Toward a theory of college choice: A model of college search and choice behavior. Alberta, Canada: University of Alberta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, D., & Baranowski, B. (1977). College expectations of entering freshmen who completed college courses during high school. Journal of College Student Personnel, 18, 188–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogarth, R. (1980). Judgment and choice: The psychology of decision. Chichester, U.K.: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hossler, D. (1984). Enrollment management: An integrated approach. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hossler, D. (1985). Studying student college choice: A three-phase model and research agenda. Paper presented at the Second Annual Chicago Conference on Enrollment Management, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, G. (1982). Public efficiency and private choice in higher education. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 4, 237–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1972). Subjective probability: A judgment of representativeness. Cognitive Psychology, 3, 430–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1982). The simulation heuristic. In D. Kahneman, P. Slovic, & A. Tversky (Eds.), Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Litten, L. (1982). Different strokes in the applicant pool. Journal of Higher Education, 53, 383–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nisbett, R., & Ross, L. (1980). Human inference: Strategies and shortcomings of social judgment. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, S., & Corty, E. (1984). Cognitive heuristics. In R. S. Wyer & T. K. Srull (Eds.), Handbook of social cognition, Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K. (1988). The use of cognitive heuristics in college choice. Doctoral dissertation, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, G. (1965). Myth and reality in the American college. American Association of University Professors Bulletin, 52, 408–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S., & Thompson, S. (1982). Stalking the elusive “vividness” effect. Psychological Review, 89, 155–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1971). Belief in the law of small numbers. Psychological Bulletin, 76, 105–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Science, 185, 1124–1131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallsten, T. S. (Ed.). (1980). Cognitive processes in choice and decisions. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zemsky, R., & Oedel, P. (1983). The structure of college choice. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Smith, K. (1994). Cognitive Heuristics in Students’ College Decisions. In: Heath, L., et al. Applications of Heuristics and Biases to Social Issues. Social Psychological Applications to Social Issues, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9238-6_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9238-6_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9240-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9238-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics