216) as illustrated in the Appendix. Student preferences are a function of their background and individual characteristics (race, gender and class, academic achievement, etc.), while college attributes may include tuition costs, selectivity, type of institution, and campus environment (DesJardins et al., 2006). The authors conceive of courtship activities—merit aid and college recruitment awards—as highly consequential in the enrollment decision and suggest that non-courtship activities (e.g., recruiting events) “may be as important as merit awards.” effective financial assistance” (p..