Educational researchers have long been concerned about the factors that influence the patterns of attendance in higher education and the extent to which higher education has been accessible to all students regardless of their socioeconomic status. Extensive research has indicated that a variety of class-related factors, such as cultural capital, social capital, and economic capital, exert remarkable impacts on the amount and type of education that one receives. Drawing on cultural capital theory, this study aims at analyzing how students' college choice process varies by social class in China. By exploring different cultural and financial factors that influence different stages of students' college choice process, this study hopes to contribute to identifying the most appropriate policies and practices for raising the representation of students from the lowest social class among college participants.

Lan Gao is a senior project analyst in the Office of Vice President for Policy at Harvard University.

Chapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Literature Review and Empirical ResearchChapter 3. Models of Student College ChoiceChapter 4. Social Stratification and Higher Education Opportunities in ChinaChapter 5. Research DesignChapter 6. Introduction of Wuhu and the Two High SchoolsChapter 7. Fuzhong High School StudentsChapter 8. Nancheng High School StudentsChapter 9. Cross Case AnalysisChapter 10. Findings, Limitations, and Implications