Unstack the Odds: Help All Kids Access College—and Graduate!
by
Joe Rottenborn
Executive Director, Mahoning Valley College Access Program (MVCAP)
13. Information, Part 2
We have data on students’ information about college from The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Preparing Students for College and Careers, conducted by Harris Interactive in the fall of 2010 on a national sample “. . . of middle and high school teachers, students, parents of public school students, and business executives from Fortune 1000 companies . . . .” (MetLife Survey, Overview) http://www.metlife.com/about/corporate-profile/citizenship/metlife-foundation/metlife-survey-of-the-american-teacher.html
The following results regarding when students are informed about college were noted in that survey [emphasis in original]:
“Most students are not getting the information they need to go to college in time for that information to be most effective. Eight in ten or more middle school students have not spoken with a teacher (79%) or school counselor (84%) about what classes they should take or other things they should do to be ready for college, have not seen examples of real college-level assignments and student work (81%), have not visited a college (81%) or have not had a college student visit their school to speak with them and other students about college (87%).” As the survey findings indicated, “It is not until grades 11 or 12 that a majority of students have had these experiences: spoken with a teacher (70%) or school counselor (76%) about what classes they should take or other things they should do to be ready for college, seen examples of real college-level assignments and student work (57%), visited a college (53%) or had a college student visit their school to speak with them and other students about college (52%).” (The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Preparing Students for College and Careers, Part 1: Clearing the Path, p. 21.) http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/contributions/foundation/american-teacher/MetLife_Teacher_Survey_2010.pdf
Survey items addressed students who are the first in their family to seek college access. As results indicated: “There is some indication that schools are sensitive to the needs of “first-generation college goers” – students whose parents have not graduated college themselves. Students whose parents have no more than a high school education are more likely than those who have a parent who is a college graduate to have visited a college (41% vs. 34%) or to have had a college student visit their school (36% vs. 30%).” (Ibid.)
Regarding students’ expectations for college, the survey results were revealing: “Most students believe they understand what they need to do to succeed in college. Nine in ten students (88%) agree that they understand what they need to do to succeed in college, including 44% who strongly agree. Six in ten students rate their school as excellent (19%) or good (42%) at providing information to them about what it means to be ready for college and a career. A similar number rate their school as excellent (18%) or good (41%) in providing information to them about what the requirements are to succeed in college.” (Ibid., p. 21)
When it comes to specific information, and when students received it, results were less positive—particularly, for middle-school students. According to survey results: “Many students and parents need more information about the requirements to get into, pay for and succeed in college, particularly during middle school. One-third of high school students (35%) rate their school as fair or poor on providing information on the requirements to succeed in college, compared to 52% of middle school students. Students who say they will go to college are less likely than others to rate their school low in this area (37% vs. 59% of those who do not plan on going beyond high school), and students who have considered dropping out of school are more likely than others to rate their school low (70% vs. 37%).” (Ibid., p. 21.) http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/contributions/foundation/american-teacher/MetLife_Teacher_Survey_2010.pdf
As for their sources of information, some illuminating results were also found. According to the responses: “For most groups of students, teachers are one of their top two sources of information on what success in college requires. The top sources of information on college success for middle school students are parents (83%), teachers (76%) and school counselors (48%). At the high school level, the same proportion of students relies on teachers (76%), fewer rely on parents (66%) and more rely on school counselors (65%). High school students also make broader use of other sources including college websites (56% vs. 31% of middle school students), friends (40% vs. 33% of middle school students) and current college students (38% vs. 26% of middle school students). School counselors are more likely to be a source of information for high school students whose parents do not have any college education, compared to those with a parent who is a college graduate (72% vs. 59%). High school students whose parents have no college education are less likely than those who have college-educated parents to use their parents as a resource (49% vs. 81%). Student reliance on teachers is similar regardless of their parents’ level of education. (Ibid., p. 24.) http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/contributions/foundation/american-teacher/MetLife_Teacher_Survey_2010.pdf
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