College Guidance, Preparation, and Success

On December 8th, 2008, The Gates Foundation announced a new initiative focused on helping low-income colleges students complete their studies. The focus is on getting youth to and through college. In addition to the student funding, Gates has also granted MDRC to serve as an evaluator of the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration initially piloted in Louisiana. Read more at: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/low-income-postsecondary-degree-081209.aspx

Center for Student Opportunity has released in the early October a new “College Access & Opportunities Guide” designed to provide a comprehensive guide to first-generation college students. Developed in collaboration with KnowHow2GO, the guide offers financial aid assistance, college program ideas, information about the application process, and critical considerations students need to account for in their college prep. The guide also provides practical questions students should discuss with their guidance counselor and mentors. To learn more, visit http://www.guideorder.csopportunity.org/

A new powerful documentary on first generation college students is a must see. The documentary follows six Philadelphia inner city students on their path to college. For more information, visit http://firstpersondocumentary.org

In addition, the Annenberg Institute for School Reform has published a report “Building College Pathways Takes a Village” that tracks the difficulties of getting to and through college, by assessing the Philadelphia schools on several dimensions: education and academic support; mentoring and social supports; competent organizations and programs; financial assistance; and neighborhood leadership. To read the report, visit http://www.annenberginstitute.org/pdf/CollegeAmbassadors.pdf

A new Jobs for the Future report reiterates the disparity in college retention rates and points to ways dual enrollment systems can benefit students, allowing them to earn college credits while in high school and helping them transition smoothly into higher education. Why dual enrollment might work? Recent polls show that only 29 percent of community college students attain a degree, only 56 percent in four-year institutions, and only 11 percent of low-income students attain diplomas. Although dual enrollments are available to an increasing number of students, majority minority schools continue to lack this option, which plays into the issues of access and equity. Yet, the report notes, dual enrollment stands to benefit students who are least likely to consider college or be college bound, by challenging them intellectually, stimulating their thinking in new ways, and presenting students with an opportunity to get a taste of college. Visit: http://www.jff.org/