השפעת מקום המגורים על בחירות לימודיות של סטודנטים לתואר ראשון

This study examines how the place of residence affects undergraduates’ educational choices (type of institution and field of study). The broader research question was, “To what extent is the educational choice influenced by the socio-economic status and academic achievement of the individual and to what extent is it influenced by the characteristics of the place of residence?” The data were taken from the 2019 and 2020CBS data concerning all first-year students in all academic institutions. The place of residence influences choices that do not depend on the socioeconomic status of the student’s family. For example, the choice of institution is more closely related to the geographical location of the place of residence, whereas the choice of field of study is more closely related to the socioeconomic cluster of the place of residence. The characteristics of the place of residence influence students with low academic achievement more than they do highly successful students. That influence does not depend on the individual’s socioeconomic status. The characteristics of the place of residence create a “sense of place” and a social differentiation between types of places of residence. This differentiation crosses the boundaries of socioeconomic status. The place of residence is not only a physical place; it is also a social place where the perception of reality, beliefs, and behavior is collectively shaped. The impact of the place of residence on educational choices indicates that it creates a common habitus for then habitants of that place.