University Recruitment Mechanisms - An Example of General Sociology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Abstract

The mechanisms which shape the student population are extremely complex and complicated. As a result of various selection mechanisms, ever smaller percentages of young people reach subsequent levels of education. Key differentiating factors include: school performance, abilities, acquired skills, social and economic conditions in the socialising environment, any endeavours by educational institutions and individuals’ motivations and actions. The author is primarily interested in the recruitment procedure which is among the most crucial mechanisms that shape the student population. As it turns out, the procedure is not free of the influence of social factors. The article is based on research conducted during the recruitment procedure for a study programme in general sociology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The analyses of mechanisms which shape the first year student population at the aforementioned university clearly indicate that the recruitment procedure rests on two platforms. On the one hand, most of the admittees were good students but, on the other hand, the screening procedure negatively selects candidates by gender and residential background.