This quantitative study investigated how well environmental and individual factors predicted college-going behavior for college eligible Latino/as. Three questions were addressed: (a) Is there a relationship between individual agency and college-going behavior after controlling for environmental factors? (b) What is the relationship between the individual agency and college-going behavior while controlling for environmental factors? and (c) What role do peers play in the relationship between individual agency and college-going behavior? One hundred and twenty-four college-eligible immigrant Latino/a students completed surveys assessing agency, peer resources, and perceived college-going practices. The odds of submitting a college application were dependent on a combination of individuals’ agency scores and peer resources, with the latter serving a meditational role. The results suggest the need to incorporate peer participation into college-going practices in middle and high school and outreach programs. Studies of underserved youth might usefully incorporate individual characteristics as well as environmental factors.
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