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Extracurricular associations and college enrollment
Benjamin G Gibbs1, Lance D Erickson2, Mikaela J Dufur2
1Department of Sociology, 2032 JFSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
Student involvement in extracurricular activities (EAs) benefits academics. Participating in EAs with high-achieving peers significantly boosts college enrollment, suggesting policy implications for peer exposure.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Sociology of Education
- Adolescent Development
Background:
- Extracurricular activities (EAs) are linked to academic benefits.
- The influence of peer associations within EAs on academic outcomes is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of peer associations within extracurricular activities on college enrollment.
- To develop a novel measure of peer associations within EAs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized comprehensive data from the Add Health study.
- Analyzed EA participation across 80 schools in the United States.
- Developed and applied a novel measure of peer associations within EAs.
Main Results:
- EA participation with high-achieving peers shows a significant association with college enrollment.
- This link persists after controlling for individual, peer, and school-level factors.
Conclusions:
- Peer associations within extracurricular activities play a crucial role in educational outcomes.
- School policies promoting exposure to high-achieving peers in EAs may enhance college enrollment rates.
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