Does university choice decision matter for school engagement and student alienation?

Abstract

This research examined the impact of students’ decision of university choice on student alienation and school engagement through structural equation modelling. The sample of the study consists of 609 Turkish first-year students from a state university, who were selected by convenience sampling method designed in the correlational design. In the study, it was determined that university students make their choices in accordance with being informed about the university, financial support the university provides, acquaintance, the effect of high school education, job opportunities, cost of education, students already studying at the university and geographical position. The study has revealed that students’ university choice decisions have positive effects: they will be affected by school engagement and the quality of higher education. The highly perceived emotional engagement is the key to shaping university choice decisions. However, student alienation has no effect on university choice decisions. Understanding the impact of school engagement and student alienation on university choice decision in Turkey should benefit other developing nations and the educational community at large.