Coming to America: Sixth Form Students Reasons for Considering Undergraduate Study in the United States A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Education of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Bethany S. Schweitzer June 2009 © 2009 Bethany S. Schweitzer. All Rights Reserved. 2 This dissertation titled Coming to America: Sixth Form Students Reasons for Considering Undergraduate Study in the United States by BETHANY S. SCHWEITZER has been approved for the Department of Counseling and Higher Education and the College of Education by Peter Mather Assistant Professor of Counseling and Higher Education Renée A. Middleton Dean, College of Education 3 ABSTRACT SCHWEITZER, BETHANY S., Ph.D., June 2009, Higher Education Coming to America: Sixth Form Students Reasons for Considering Undergraduate Study in the United States (181 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Peter Mather The purpose of this basic interpretive qualitative study was to understand the increased number of secondary school age British students considering undergraduate study in the United States. The study included events and experiences that influenced participants’ interest and decisions concerning pursuing undergraduate study in the United States. It further explored the role that the various people in the students’ lives played in the process: parents, friends, careers advisors, media, etc. The study included a purposeful sample of 12 self-identified British students completing their A-levels education. Additionally, interviews with nine international students completing their A-levels education at a school in the United Kingdom were included. The study also included interviews with three careers advisors and the former head of the U.S./U.K. Fulbright Commission. The interviews took place at three boarding schools in England over a one-week period. The following conclusions were drawn after an in-depth analysis of the transcripts of the individual interviews and biographical questionnaires. The students in the United Kingdom who are considering undergraduate study in the United States are interested in universities in the United States based upon their perception of the quality of education, 4 the ability to delay choosing a major, the opportunity for a liberal arts education and their perception of the availability of scholarships and other financial assistance. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Peter Mather Assistant Professor of Counseling and Higher Education 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 7 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 9 Statement of the Problem and Significance .................................................................. 11 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 13 Research Methodology ................................................................................................. 14 Limitations of the Study................................................................................................ 16 Definition of Terms....................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 19 Higher Education in the United Kingdom .................................................................... 21 Policy Changes.............................................................................................................. 25 Effect of Policy Changes .............................................................................................. 27 Why Students are Applying to U.S. Universities ......................................................... 28 University Selection ...................................................................................................... 29 University Selection—International Students............................................................... 30 Recruitment of Foreign Students .................................................................................. 31 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 3: Research Design and Methodology ................................................................ 33 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 33 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 34 Research Design/Research Methodology ..................................................................... 34 Data Collection ............................................................................................................. 36 Observation ................................................................................................................... 38 Establishing Trustworthiness ........................................................................................ 40 Chapter 4: Results ............................................................................................................ 46 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 46 The Schools ................................................................................................................... 47 Visiting Eton ............................................................................................................. 48 Visiting CATS Cambridge ........................................................................................ 51 Visiting Christ’s Hospital ......................................................................................... 52 Demographics ............................................................................................................... 56 The Interview Participants ............................................................................................ 59 Emerging Themes ......................................................................................................... 65 Presentation of Findings ............................................................................................... 66 Characteristics of Universities in the United States ...................................................... 68 Influences ...................................................................................................................... 79 Choosing Universities and Final Decisions .................................................................. 84 6 Answers to Research Questions .................................................................................... 88 The Cambridge Interviews .......................................................................................... 103 Characteristics of U.S. Schools ................................................................................... 107 Influences .................................................................................................................... 113 Ultimate Decision ....................................................................................................... 114 Answers to Research Questions .................................................................................. 116 CATS Cambridge Students vs. Eton and Christ’s Hospital Students ......................... 124 Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations .......................................... 125 Overview of the Study ................................................................................................ 125 Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 137 Discussion and Implications ....................................................................................... 140 Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 145 Limitations of the Study.............................................................................................. 151 Suggestions for Future Research ................................................................................ 152 Giving Back ................................................................................................................ 154 Final Thoughts ............................................................................................................ 155 References ....................................................................................................................... 156 Appendix A: Letter to Participating Schools .................................................................. 163 Appendix B: Individual Interview Protocol .................................................................... 165 Appendix C: