Although many school counselors use self-report graduation surveys to collect data about their program and to track students after graduation, there is a dearth of research examining the survey results' accuracy. The purpose of this study was to explore the accuracy of high school seniors' self-report of intended college enrollment. Overall,…

Using discontinuities within the Swedish SAT [scholastic aptitude test] system, we show that additional admission opportunities causally affect college choices. Students with high-educated parents change timing, colleges, and fields in ways that appear consistent with basic economic theory. In contrast, very talented students with low-educated…

In this study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 29 parents of prospective college students, a target public of university marketing efforts. We explored how university communication influenced parents' attitudes, and reputation perception. The research findings are significant in understanding parents' views on responding to prevalent…

A gender gap currently exists in college STEM majors, with a lower percentage of females entering math intensive fields. One possible explanation is the advice students receive in high school. We conduct a survey of high school guidance counselors, soliciting their advice regarding hypothetical high school students' college and major choices. We…

Objectives/Research Question: This study aims to explore who transfers between 2-year colleges (lateral transfer students) and how these students fare in terms of degree attainment. More specifically, this research explores two research questions: (1) What are the predictors of lateral transfer? (2) Is lateral transfer associated with degree…

Drawing from two data sets -- one focused on students in high school actively engaged in the process of college choice, the other centering the perspectives of college graduates and their parents reflecting back on the process -- this article critically examines the journeys of DiaspoRican students trying to gather information and make informed…

For this factsheet, "Excelencia" in Education aggregated data on Latino students' educational aspirations, applications to college, and college choices from The High School Longitudinal Study of 2009. This study is a nationally representative longitudinal study that began with freshmen in 2009 and has followed them through secondary and…

Dual credit programs afford high school students the opportunity to earn college credit prior to graduation while exposing them to the rigor and culture of college, which may help make college more accessible to first-generation college students and underserved populations. The purpose of this study was to understand students' dual credit…

This guide offers basic considerations for starting the college search, as well as helpful tips. It also includes key questions to ask staff from college programs, covering topics such as academics, employment and student supports, housing, financial aid, and the overall campus and community experience, with room to add questions of your own.

This resource provides helpful information for high school teachers and counselors to better understand computer science, an industry that has many high-wage jobs open across the country. The resource supports effective advising by including an overview of computer science, cybersecurity, and networking; defines in-demand computer science skills…

University choice is a high-risk decision for prospective students which requires substantial effort to evaluate a range of choice factors. Understanding this complex process is a crucial task for higher education marketers. Of particular importance are the differences across market segments. This study analyses the importance of choice factors,…

Undocumented immigrant students represent 2% of the total U.S. higher education population. Due to their citizenship status, many undocumented high school students encounter barriers to college access including prohibitive admissions policies, increased tuition rates, and funding restrictions. Some undocumented students experience anxiety,…

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Statement on Counselor Competencies defines college counselors' responsibilities as including "collaborat[ing] with teachers, administrators, and other educators." The experiences of longtime college counselors, showcase many best practices for working with teachers to…

This study investigates the prevalence of postsecondary student-college match for students enrolled in special education services at the secondary education level by using data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002. This study examines alternative student-college match scenarios -- including undermatch, match, and overmatch -- and…

The literature on college choice is extensive and navigating it for purposes of review is complicated by the dual meaning given to the word choice. To clarify, in this article, the phrase "college choice" refers to the concept defined by Don Hossler and Karen Gallagher in their seminal 1987 article entitled "Studying Student College…