Empirical Study of Family Background and Higher Education: Relationship to Acceptance Opportunities and Trends—Based on Surveys at a Key Beijing University from 2007 to 2012

Abstract

:Which family had a child that was accepted at a key university? To investigate the relationship between family background and children obtaining higher education opportunities and developing trends, the authors analyze survey data from 2007 to 2012 at a key university in Beijing. The results show there is a clear trend of enlargement of the predictive value of family social, economic, and cultural status, and the main competition is between families in the middle and upper strata; the huge role of family location and household registration continues to exist and families from urban and nonagricultural households are in a position of absolute advantage; independent recruitment by colleges is beneficial for children from families in the middle and upper strata obtaining opportunities for higher education and further increases the gaps between families of different strata.