UNDERSTANDING THE COLLEGE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR EAST ASIAN STUDENTS

ABSTRACT UNDERSTANDING THE COLLEGE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR EAST ASIAN STUDENTS Yiyong Feng Gregory J. Collins East Asian international students (EAS) frequently seek admission to prestigious colleges, motivated by a complex interplay of cultural values, familial expectations, and other factors. Nonetheless, many of these students encounter significant challenges in making informed decisions regarding their college applications, resulting in elevated rates of rejection and increased pressure throughout the application process. I focused on understanding the factors shaping the college decision-making of EAS, particularly regarding elite institutions, and the sources of application-related pressures.I conducted qualitative interviews with 20 EAS who successfully gained admission to elite colleges, alongside five parents and four college counselors. Through thematic analysis, three primary factors emerged that influenced the college choice of EAS: (a) Cultural and Family Influences Driving Prestige-Oriented Decisions, (b) A Delicate Balancing of Academic Priorities and Practical Considerations, and (c) Financial Realities and Perceived Admission Factors Acting as Constraints or Enablers. Additionally, I identified three key factors contributing to the application pressure experienced by these students: (a) Familial Expectations and Cultural Emphasis on Academic Achievement, (b) Peer Competition and Social Comparison, and (c) Internalized Pressure and Self-Imposed Standards. Two additional nuanced findings emerged from this study. First, although parents did not report applying pressure on college decisions, students and counselors perceived it, suggesting that students may internalize pressure or parents may be unaware of its impact. Second, patterns of school selection and related stress vary across families with different levels of Americanization, highlighting the need for further investigation. My findings enlarged the literature on college choice pertaining to EAS, offering both theoretical insights and practical implications. The findings enhance understanding of college decision-making factors while also addressing the factors contributing to application pressures, ultimately facilitating better-informed decisions and effective pressure management. Furthermore, these insights and practical recommendations can benefit educators, college counselors, policymakers, families, and parent-child dynamics by illuminating the needs and challenges facing EAS during the college application process. Finally, this research lays the groundwork for future inquiries into college application stress in relation to prestige, motivation, and overall well-being.

Author dc:creator

• Feng, Yiyong

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Collins, Gregory, J.

• Education

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/62403

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.upenn.edu:20.500.14332/62403