Examining aspiration changes for graduate education during college

​The proposed research project aims at assessing the overall effects of undergraduate experience on graduate and professional school attendance, especially for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as its potential impact across different student populations. Given the increasing importance of graduate and professional education, it addresses a critical question at the intersection of the commitment to improve the quality of teaching and learning in higher education. Based on a survey of a nationally representative sample of college students, this study employs Hierarchical Generalized Linear Models (HGLM) to examine college student experiences among different types of Higher Education Institutions in relation to their pursuit of graduate education. Based on the results, implications are drawn from theory, policy and research.