Search Results

Author: Shamsuddin, Shomon
Resulting in 2 citations.
1. Shamsuddin, Shomon
Berkeley or Bust? Estimating the Causal Effect of College Selectivity on Bachelor's Degree Completion
Research in Higher Education 57,7 (November 2016): 795-822.
Also: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11162-016-9408-0
Cohort(s): NLSY97
Publisher: Springer
Keyword(s): College Characteristics; College Degree; College Enrollment; Educational Attainment; Geocoded Data; Test Scores/Test theory/IRT

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Many students enroll in less selective colleges than they are qualified to attend, despite low graduation rates at these institutions. Some scholars have argued that qualified students should enroll in the most selective colleges because they have greater resources to support student success. However, selective college attendance is endogenous, so student outcomes could be due to individual ability, not institutional characteristics. Previous work on college selectivity has focused on the earnings effects of attending elite private universities, overlooking both college graduation impacts and the public institutions that educate most students. I estimate the effect of selective colleges on the probability of bachelor's degree completion using a restricted-access national dataset and an instrumental variables approach to address the endogeneity of college choice. I find that a 100-point increase in the average SAT score for admitted students is associated with an increase in the probability of graduation by 13 percentage points. In addition, I find suggestive evidence that enrolling in a selective public college has a positive effect on degree completion. The results are robust to a series of sensitivity tests and alternate specifications. The findings suggest strong benefits to enrolling in the most selective colleges that students are qualified to attend and have important implications for decisions to pursue postsecondary education in the face of high student loan debt.
Bibliography Citation
Shamsuddin, Shomon. "Berkeley or Bust? Estimating the Causal Effect of College Selectivity on Bachelor's Degree Completion." Research in Higher Education 57,7 (November 2016): 795-822.
2. Shamsuddin, Shomon
Essays on Housing, Education, and Inequality
Ph.D. Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013
Cohort(s): NLSY97
Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT)
Keyword(s): College Degree; College Graduates; Colleges; Income; Modeling, Instrumental Variables; Motivation

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

According to standard economic theory, more people will obtain postsecondary education in response to the rising college wage premium. However, students from low income families remain less likely to earn a college degree than high income students, even controlling for academic preparation. My dissertation provides empirical evidence on the puzzle of low college attainment among low income students. First, I estimate the effects of motivational qualities on college graduation by performing multivariate regression analysis using National Education Longitudinal Study data. I find that motivational qualities measured in 8 th grade, i.e. causally prior to postsecondary participation, predict college degree completion, independent of grades and demographic characteristics. Further, the positive impact is concentrated among disadvantaged students. Second, I examine if students possess adequate information about college preparation and the application process by conducting observations and over 50 interviews with high school guidance counselors, advisors, and students in public schools serving poor neighborhoods. I find that students are familiar with college applications but they are unaware of their own academic performance and lack context to make effective use of college guidance. Third, I identify the causal effect of college selectivity on degree completion by using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data and instrumental variable estimation. I find that attendance at selective public universities increases the probability of graduation, controlling for grades and family background. This dissertation contributes to the literature by identifying the role of motivational qualities on college outcomes, increasing our understanding of student information about college, and assessing the impact of college quality on degree completion. The results have important public policy implications: 1) colleges can both improve graduation rates and increase student diversity by attaching more weight to motivation qualities in the admissions process, 2) schools must instill strong academic habits earlier so students can obtain higher grades and benefit from college guidance, and 3) students should enroll in the most selective colleges they are qualified to attend. Understanding the barriers to higher education for low income students is essential for increasing the proportion of college graduates and improving individual socioeconomic mobility, urban revitalization, and national economic competitiveness. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, libraries.mit.edu/docs - docs@mit.edu)
Bibliography Citation
Shamsuddin, Shomon. Essays on Housing, Education, and Inequality. Ph.D. Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013.