Factors influencing the educational experiences of immigrants to the United States are outlined and discussed. The factors are categorized as relevant to the individual (personal strengths, age at arrival, quantity and quality of educational background, native language English proficiency, reasons for immigrating, race/ethnicity, immigration status, relationships with family members, gender, physical health, mental health), to family (skills and strengths, educational background, English proficiency, mobility/transience, immigration status, economic resources), to the relationship of the native culture and country to the U.S. (degree of similarity in cultures, history of relations between countries, proximity of home country), to immigrant experience (linguistic displacement, cultural displacement), and to the context encountered within the U.S. (language attitudes, presence of others speaking the native language, status of the native country within the U.S., presence of other nationals, racial/ethnic attitudes, economic resources, presence of support services). The importance of interrelationships between these factors is also emphasized. Contains 26 references. (MSE)