Gender Differences in College Choice among Highly Selective High School Students

シンガクコウ　ニ　ザイセキ　スル　コウコウセイ　ノ　シンロ　センタク　ニ　オケル　ダンジョサ　チョウサ　ガイヨウ　ト　メカニズム　ノ　タンキュウ

サイキ, リサ

Saiki, Risa

打越, 文弥

ウチコシ, フミヤ

Uchikoshi, Fumiya

徳安, 慧ー

トクヤス, ケイイチ

Tokuyasu, Keiichi

福島, 由依

フクシマ, ユイ

Fukushima, Yui

黒木, 禎子

クロキ, トモコ

Kuroki, Tomoko

松岡, 佳奈

マツオカ, カナ

Matsuoka, Kana

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ キョウイクガクケイ

Department of Education, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

In recent years, more than half of female high school graduates have attended four-year universities in Japan, with the gender gap shrinking in terms of vertical levels. Few female students, however, still apply to selective colleges, suggesting that gender inequality in access to higher education has been maintained at a horizontal level. Why are there qualitative gender differences in college choice, including which college they aim for, how, and when? To address these research questions, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 99 high school seniors who are enrolled in 12 selective high schools, in five prefectures, with supplementary interviews for high school teachers in these schools. Our preliminary results suggests that there are two strategies for college admission. The first is a group of male students aiming for their first choice, even if they may need to spend another year preparing for the nationwide entrance exam. In most cases, they plan to take the entrance exams of the highly selective colleges in the big city. The second is those who put more emphasis on fields of study in college or proximity from home to university. Many female students select this strategy. We found that male students tend to be in the first group, while female students tend to be in the second group. We also discuss potential mechanisms for gender differences.

打越, 文弥

徳安, 慧ー

福島, 由依

黒木, 禎子

松岡, 佳奈