COLLEGE AMBITIONS AND PARENTAL PLANNING

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 25, Heft 2

Abstract

A cross-section survey of 5,000 heads of households throughout the US who had 1 or more children under 18 yrs of age not now in Coll to determine expections re Coll educ for their children & the plans being made to achieve this. While official expectations indicate that 44% of 18-21 yr olds in the 1960's would be attending Coll, 69% of children under 18 are expected to go to Coll by their parents. Though as a measure of future Coll pop this is probably too high, representing the expression of hopes rather than realistic planning, a Coll educ 'has attained the symbolic value once possessed by a HSch diploma.' The absence of realistic thinking is glaringly evident in the financial provisions people are making to take care of their children's educ; only 40% of the parents expecting to send children to Coll had any savings or investment plan set up specifically for this purpose. Most people in upper econ levels had a realistic idea of present Coll costs, but those of below (mean - average) econ level were unable to make any estimate of yearly Coll costs. Realism of approach also depended greatly on how close the child was to Coll age. Parents of young children tend to talk in terms of savings plans, but as time of enrollment approaches, current income becomes the only alternative left open to many parents. It is concluded that 'one way or another, through private or gov'al sources, means will have to be found to satisfy the awakened educ'al ambitions of the vast majority of Americans.' I. Taviss.