Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Tables and Figures ix
4. Chapter 1. Introduction: Three Valedictorians 1
5. Chapter 2. Predisposition: Setting the Course 23
6. Chapter 3. Preparation: Paving the Way 36
7. Chapter 4. Exploration: Investigating College 54
8. Chapter 5. Application: Choosing Potential Destinations 95
9. Chapter 6. Admissions: Gaining Permission to Enter 114
10. Chapter 7. Matriculation: Selecting among Offers of Admission 123
11. Chapter 8. Integrating It All: College Destinations and the Paths That Lead to Them 141
12. Appendix A. List of Most- Selective Colleges 165
13. Appendix B. The High School Valedictorian Project Social Class Variable 167
14. Appendix C. Quantitative Data Collection 171
15. Appendix D. The High School Valedictorian Project Web Survey 175
16. Appendix E. The High School Valedictorian Project Interview Schedule 199
17. Appendix F. Regression Tables 203
18. Notes 221
19. References 249
20. Acknowledgments 273
21. Index 275