Relationships Between Self-Esteem and Factors Known to Affect College Attendance

There are many factors impacting student’s decisions to attend college. Researchers investigated selfesteem, perceived academic abilities, and intended college attendance in a group of high school seniors involved in a program aimed at assisting them get into college. Participants were 83 senior high school students (males = 28, females = 55) from various high schools in Idaho. Many students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and were Caucasian (Caucasian = 40, Latino = 28, Asian = 6, African American = 2, and other = 6). Participants were asked 39 questions concerning intended college attendance, self-esteem, perceived academic abilities, and other factors that influenced their decision to attend college. Significant correlations were found between self-esteem and perceived academic abilities