Lament for the Letterman: Effects of Peer Status and Extracurricular Activities on Goals and Achievement

This paper tests the hypothesis that the student's peer status and his extracurricular participation in high school will effect both his educational goals and his subsequent college attainments, holding family SES, I.Q., and grades constant. Perceived status is positively related to goals but negatively related to their fulfillment. Athletes who exaggerate their peer status but do not participate in service or leadership activities especially fail to fulfill their aspirations. The extracurriculum can be major source of success orientations independent of family status and academic performance, but only certain activities foster the skills and attitudes necessary for later success in college.