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Abstract
Upon graduation from high school a student must ask many important questions: Should I enroll in college? What major should I choose? How will I finance my degree? I explore several factors that influence a student's responses to these questions. In Chapter 1, I investigate whether certain school districts are more efficient than others at enrolling students in college. I find that geography plays an important role in a district's efficiency score. Chapter 2 focuses on whether fluctuations in the business cycle sway freshman college major decisions. Students are more likely to declare majors in Technology, Biology and Education during downturns. Chapter 3 assesses how business cycles affect a freshman's financial aid package. Freshmen are more likely to receive federal aid during downturns than during more stable periods. The results from this research help economists better understand how students make decisions during the critical transition from high school to college.