The research for Alexander Astin’s landmark book, What Matters in College? (0-7879-0838-X) showed that student gender made a difference on more than two-thirds of the college outcomes examined. This book takes the next logical step toward understanding how and why gender influences the college experience Drawn from data on a sample of approximately 15,000 male and female students at 170 institutions. Takes a major step towards understanding how and why gender influences college outcomes in areas of academic achievement, self-concept, life goals, career development, physical and emotional health, political and social attitudes, and satisfaction with college.