Helping Students Make Informed Choices About College

While a college education typically results in higher earnings and non-monetary benefits, many students—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—struggle with the application process and summer transitions. This brief examines the challenges and strategies associated with college enrollment, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing students with greater access to college counselors, structured time for application tasks, and guidance on where to apply can significantly improve enrollment rates. Targeted outreach, progress tracking, and summer support further help students stay on track. 

The EdResearch for Action Overview Series summarizes the research on key topics to provide K-12 education decision makers and advocates with an evidence base to ground discussions about how to best serve students. Authors – leading experts from across the field of education research – are charged with highlighting key findings from research that provide concrete, strategic insight on persistent challenges sourced from district and state leaders.