The Influence of Other Significant People on a Young Woman’s College Decision

Setting the Stage

Utah Women and Education Project researchers conducted in-depth research in 2010 to discover why more young women around the state were not attending and graduating from college. Findings show that people are the most important influence on a young woman’scollege decision. Previous snapshots presented findings related to the influence of fathers (No. 2), mothers, (No. 3), school counselors and administrators (No. 4), teachers (No. 5), and religious leaders (No. 10). However, researchers discovered that other individuals can be powerful influences as well. Hence, the purpose of this snapshot is to highlight the influence of other significant people on a young woman’s college decision and present the level of influence of these particular stakeholders.  

Data were gathered concerning the influence of siblings on the decision of young women to drop out of, graduate from, or not attend college. There was no statistically significant difference when we compared the participant’s college choice with birth order or number of brothers and sisters. This means that, in this sample, the college decision was not linked to the number of siblings in a family or if the participant was born as a first, middle, or last child. These women, however, were more likely to attend if they had sisters and/or brothers who had or were attending college. Conversations about college with siblings focused on the importance of college, expenses, positive and negative experiences, and fun times. Interestingly, the most important link to college attendance and graduation is when siblings reminded them that they needed to be a good example to others by attending college. 

The Influence of Friends and Relatives 

Researchers found that there are various individuals who can influence a young woman’s college decision:  

• For a young woman, having many friends who encouraged her to go to college made it more likely that she would attend and graduate.  
• Having friends who planned to attend or were already going to college improved the likelihood that a young woman would proactively prepare for, attend, and graduate from college. 
•  The most important conversational points that peers made about college included the benefits of independence and the fun/social experiences they had in college. 
•  Relatives were powerful influences on young women’s college decisions. The most influential relatives were those who had attended college, discussed it with them, and specifically encouraged them to attend. 
•  Young women with involved relatives (i.e., grandparents, uncles/aunts, and cousins) were significantly more likely to attend and graduate from college.  

Key Takeaways 

Researchers found the following factors influenced a young woman’s decision to attend andgraduate from college:  

• Participants who said that they had no influence from others beyond the initial people studied (e.g., parents, siblings, relatives, local church leaders, school counselors, and teachers) were significantly less likely to attend college and graduate. It seems that in addition to positive influences from the core support system, young women also benefit from conversations and encouragement from employers, neighbors, church and community members, family friends, and others. 

• Influence from employers, neighbors, church/community members, and family friends is significantly linked to involvement of a young woman in college preparation activities as well as attendance in and graduation from college. 
•  The five strongest predictors of young women doing college preparation activities include receiving assistance and/or encouragement from mothers, fathers, school counselors, friends, and local church leaders. 
•  The four strongest predictors of young women getting to college and graduating include receiving assistance and/or encouragement from local church leaders, teachers, friends, and parents.  

Conclusion 

Parents, family members, friends, educators, and church leaders play a significant role in influencing young women’s college decisions. Expanding the circle of influencers to include employers, neighbors, and other community members will positively impact women in communities and in the state as a whole. 

 

To learn more about The Influence of Other Significant People on a Young Woman’s College Decisions, read the snapshot.