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Can I Get a LittleAdvice Here?
How a Ovrsrch High Schoo Guiac SysmIs Urmiig Sus Cog Aspiraios
A PUblIC AGendA RePORt fOR tHe bIll & MelIndA GAteS fOUndAtIOn
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Can I get a lIttle advICe here?
by Ja Johso a Jo Rochki wih Amr n. O a Samaha duPo
Prpar wih suppor rom h
bi & Mia Gas fouaio
dowoa a copy o Ca I G a li Avic Hr? a
http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem?qt_active=1
dsig: tamiko dsig, llC | Copyiig: Jaso Mir a Soa Vog
this work is ics ur h Craiv Commos Ariuio-nocommrcia-Shar Aik 3.0 Upor
lics. to viw a copy o his ics, visi hp://craivcommos.org/icss/y-c-sa/3.0/ or s a r
o Craiv Commos, 171 Sco Sr, Sui 300, Sa fracisco, Caioria 94105, USA.
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dcii c, csi i sc fii
scs f i
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2 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here?
IntroduCtIon
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1 aic Sc Cs asscii. 2007-2008 S Sc Cs ris.
ri f: ://.sccs./fis/ris2007-2008.f.
2 mcd, p. Csi C Csi i aics hi Scs, ni assci i f C aissi Csi, 2005.
3 u.S. d f eci, ni C f eci Sisics. t Cii f eci,
wsi, dC: u.S. g pii offic, 2004.
Most young adults who go on to college believe that the
advice o their high school guidance counselors was
inadequate and oten impersonal and perunctory. When
asked about their experiences with their counselors in
high school, about hal say that they elt like just
another ace in the crowd.
Most troubling, and potentially signicant or policymak-
ers, is that young people who characterized their interac-
tions with guidance counselors as anonymous and
unhelpul were less likely to go directly rom high school
into a postsecondary programa decision that is known
to reduce their chances o successully completing a degree
or certicate. Tese young people were also less likely to
say that they had chosen their college or university based
on explicit criteria such as its academic reputation, the
availability o nancial aid or the liklihood that it would
help them get a good job ater graduation.
a CounSelIng SyStem
under StreSS
Responses rom the more than 600 young adults surveyed
by Public Agenda, all o whom had begun some orm o
higher education, suggest that the existing high school
guidance system is a perilously weak part o the nations
eorts to increase college attendance and ramp up degree
completion. As the survey demonstrates, the judgments
young people make about their high school counselors are
oten harsh, considerably harsher than the judgments they
make about their high school teachers or their advisers at the
postsecondary level. But beore we discuss the details o the
survey, it is useuland only air to those who work as high
school guidance counselorsto present some context about
the challenges acing the counseling system nationwide.
Although proessional groups such as the American School
Counselor Association say that a studentcounselor ratio
o 250 to 1 is optimal, this is ar rom the typical state o
aairs in most public schools. In Caliornia, the ratio is
closer to 1,000 students or every counselor available. In
Arizona, Minnesota, Utah and the District o Columbia,
the ratio is typically more than 700 to 1. Nationwide, the
average is 460 to 1.1
It is also important to remember that advising students
on higher education choices is just one o many things
that guidance counselors do. Studies o how counselors
spend their time show that much o their eort is
devoted to discipline issues and sorting out scheduling
and other administrative mix-ups within the high school.
In some districts, counselors supervise standardized
testing programs.2 Tey also sometimes ll in as substi-
tute teachers or assist with other stang shortages.3
Dramatically increasing the number o counselors andgiving them more time to coner with students would
seem to be imperative, but according to some recent
analyses o the proession, doing so may not be enough.
Many degree programs or guidance counselors do not
oer coursework on helping students make the best
postsecondary choices or on aiding them and their
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amilies to navigate the complicated world o nancial
aid and college loans.4 Although teachersand principals
and superintendentsare required to stay abreast o new
trends and inormation in their elds, most states and
districts do not require proessional development or
guidance counselors.5
odays high school counselors operate in an educational
and economic landscape that has changed immensely and
continues to do so. A ew decades ago, a high school
diploma was an adequate gateway to a good job in
manuacturing or in respected elds like reghting and
police work. Only a subset o academically oriented
students went on to college. oday, however, most good
jobs require a college degree or certication o some kind,
and the vast majority o amilies want their children to
continue their education beyond high school.6
Whats more, the higher education system now oers a
potentially bewildering array o choices o schools and
programs. A student completing high school in New York
City who wants to go to college within 25 miles o home
has over 200 institutions to choose romtwo- and
our-year schools, public and private schools, and
institutions ranging rom Columbia and City University
o New York to the American Academy o Dramatic Arts
and the Swedish Institute, A College o Health Sciences.7
But even students in smaller cities have available to them
an array o higher education options. Students rom
Jackson, Mississippi, Falmouth, Maine, or Albuquerque,
New Mexico, all have more than a dozen institutions o
higher education to choose rom in their local areas. And
none o this is to mention the more than 3,000 possibili-
ties nationwide.8 Te recent increase o or-prot colleges,
which began in the 1990s, adds to the prospective
students mix o choices.9
Just as postsecondary education is more necessary than it
was in the past, so too is it likely to be more costly.10 Te
college and university system, especially its nancial side,
can seem opaque and convoluted to many students and
their parents, especially those rom lower-income and less
well-educated backgrounds. And unortunately, it is at this
moment when many people need more help plotting a
course through this world that the proessionals charged
with assisting them eel most besieged and overwhelmed.
Its hardly surprising that they are oten not able to keep up
with the demands and expectations placed upon them.
4 mcd, p. Csi ms: K, assisc, oizi Ci i C pi, 2004.
5
Ciis, m., & hkis, d. S f C aissi, axi, va: ni asscii f C aissi Csi, 2009.6 m 6 i 10 s s c ci is css scc, sii s s i is ik i ci i
c ( q s i is s ik). pic a, Sqz p: h ps t pic lk hi eci
t, n yk: a, 2007.
7 ://cs../ci/?s=ny&zc=10016&z=25&f=3&=2.
8 ://cs../ci.
9 pic a , Sqz p: h ps t pic lk hi eci t. n yk: a, 2007.
10 t C b. ts i C pici 2009.
ri f: ://.s-c.c/c_ici/f/2009_ts_C_pici.f.
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Finding One: ms ss, s sccssf c c, ii i sc ic css fi is
elevisions Te Simpsonsseems to have ound a niche
depicting the rustrating and degrading situations many o
us experience in contemporary lie. In one episode, Homer
Simpson recalls a lackluster meeting with a guidance
counselor who describes his job as advising any student
whose name begins with a letter rom N to Z.
Sad to say, Homers less-than-inspiring conversation with
his counselor doesnt appear to be unusual in todays high
schools. Many o the young adults surveyed by Public
Agenda have little good to say about the counseling
system, and they give their guidance counselors stun-
ningly poor reviews in some crucial categories connected
with higher education.
Te guidance system does at least unction at a basic
level. When asked about their experiences with guid-
ance counselors in high school, just 2 percent o those
surveyed told us that they didnt have a guidance
counselor in high school or never met with one to
discuss their plans. But having the meeting clearly
doesnt mean that the counselors ullled the students
needs and expectations.
Among young adults who graduated rom high school
and started some orm o postsecondary education, ully
6 in 10 give their high school guidance counselors air
or poor ratings or helping them think about dierent
careers. Over two-thirds give them air or poor
ratings or helping them decide which school to go to,
with 35 percent giving them the lowest possible rating o
poor. Te ratings are similarly dreary on giving them
advice about ways to pay or college or helping them
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ms s i i sc
ic css fi isf i c ic
bs: ask f s 2230
s ssc ci.
48%
2%
1%
47%
Which of these comes closer to
describing your own experiences with
the counselors in your high school?
The counselors usually made an effort to really
get to know me and to treat me as an individual
I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd
Dont know
I never had any experiences
with counselors in high school
48%
47%
2%
1%
n f f i css s
s fc i c
bs: ask f s 2230
s ssc ci.
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weave their way through the college application process.
Nearly hal (48 percent) say they usually elt like just
another ace in the crowd in dealing with their guidance
counselor; 47 percent say that their counselors tried to
get to know them and work with them personally.
In ocus groups conducted as part o the project, young
people oten characterized their meetings with counselors
as dispiriting and unhelpul, especially i the student
happened to be one who didnt stand out as college
material. One young New Yorker suspected that his
guidance counselors prioritized their time based on which
students seemed most likely to go to college: [My
guidance counselors] didnt care [about me]. You could see
other kids getting called in and being [asked], What are
you going to do [ater high school]? Tose kids would
come [or college day] with suits and ties and their parents
would come with them. Ten there was everybody else.
Another young woman told this story: We had to take a
test [that] asked [about] all these scenarios and how you
would react or what your preerence was on a certain
topic. It was terrible because it told me I should be a bus
driver. Tey looked at that when you sat with your
guidance counselor. Another student, also rom New
York, shared his experience with his high school guidance
counselors: [It was] a mandatory meeting. []heyd
look at your grades and then say, Oh, you can get into
these schools.
Finding Two: Ss fccsi ik c k qsi ici cics
Most parents today want their children to go to college,
but students rom college-educated amilies start with
some undeniable educational advantages, among them
that their parents typically have experience planning or
college. Well-educated, afuent amilies oten invest
considerable energy in helping their children look at
dierent colleges and universities and accumulating the
needed nancial resources. For some, college planning is
a major parental enterprise that can begin rom themoment a child is born. And it pays o: In our survey,
students whose parents had a our-year degree were much
more likely to themselves be successul in a our-year
college or university.
But nationwide, nearly 6 in 10 public school students are
rom amilies where neither parent has completed college.11
Analysis rom this survey shows that among other things,
parental income and education level are strongly correlated
with student success in completing a college degree.
Among students who complete a two- or our-year degreeor certicate, about hal say that when they were living at
home, their amily had money let over at the end o the
month, and nearly 7 in 10 say their parents had at least
some college education. Among those who ail to nish
college, 56 percent come rom amilies that just barely
made ends meet or had trouble getting by; 4 in 10 (41
percent) have parents whose highest degree is a high school
diploma or less.
11 h, K., od, K. p Fi I i eci, 200607 Sc y, F ni hs eci Ss
p f 2007 (nCeS 2008-050). ni C f eci Sisics, Isi f eci Scics, u.S. d f eci,
wsi, dC, 2008.
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0 20 40 60 80 100%
Their parents highest degree
is a high school diploma or less
Their parents generally did not have money left
over after paying monthly expenses or had trouble
getting by
30%
56%
46%
41%
Percent who say that:
Students who failed to complete college
Students who completed a degree
y s fi c
c ik cf fiis i ics
s f ci
bs: ask f s 2230
s ssc ci.
n 1 i 5 s
i cs i c
0 20 40 60 80 100%
18%
13%
Percent of students who waited a year or more
after high school before enrolling in college:
The counselors usually made an effort to really
get to know me and to treat me as an individual
I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd
bs: ask f s 2230
s ssc ci.
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REASON NO. 2:I Have to Pay My Own Way
a need For praCtICal advICe
For young people rom less well-educated, lower-income
amilies, the ability to know and talk to adults who are
amiliar with the higher education system can be
essential. Public Agenda research has shown repeatedlythat the vast majority o lower-income and less well-
educated parents have high educational aspirations or
their children.12 Even so, these amilies may not have
enough in-depth practical knowledge about how the
system works to give their children the best advice.13 In
such cases, access to an attentive and knowledgeable
guidance counselor can be decisive.
So what happens to students who dont have constructive
and helpul counseling experiences? As part o the research
analysis, we compared the responses o young people who
said that their counselors seemed to see them as just
another ace in the crowd with the responses o youngpeople who said that their counselors really made an eort
to get to know them and help them.
Te results are sobering, and some suggest that a lack o
good counseling may have a long-lasting eect on
students lives and prospects. Students who are poorly
counseled are less likely to go directly rom high school
into a college programa step that research shows is
highly correlated with dropping out o college.14
12 t s f cks si s c ci is css, is ssi sccssf i
c , jiis s i is ik i ci i c. pic a. Sqz p: h ps t
pic lk hi eci t, n yk: a, 2007.
13 a s, afic-aics hisics f ic s ik i s i qifi ss
sci s f ii si c ci. tis xi siss s ii s
fici -ff. pic a, Sqz p: h ps t pic lk hi eci t, n yk: a, 2007.
14 S, f isc: a, d., mcc, b. & n, I., ti d F C: a hz m i es wii,
Isi ris C, uisi f mis, 2002.
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y s i
cs ss ik ci fici i ik
isi i i c cic
0 20 40 60 80 100%
They would have enrolled in a different
school if money were not an issue
They had a scholarship or financial
aid to help pay for school
46%
51%
41%
35%
Percent of students who say:
The counselors usually made an effort to reallyget to know me and to treat me as an individual
I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd
bs: ask f s 2230
s ssc ci.
y s i
cs ss ik cs c s cic
i fici i ffs
0 20 40 60 80 100%
The school offered me a scholarship or financial aid
The overall academic reputation of the school
I thought going to this school would help
me get a good job soon after I graduated
The tuition and fees were affordable
48%
55%
62%
64%
41%
51%
32%
44%
Percent who say the following is a major
reason they selected their school:
I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd
The counselors usually made an effort to really
get to know me and to treat me as an individual
bs: ask f s 2230
s ssc ci.
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Tere is also evidence o a pronounced negative nancial
eect. Students who believe that they have been poorly
counseled are more likely to say they would have
attended a dierent school i money were not an issue, by
a 46 percent to 35 percent margin. Tey are also less
likely to say that they received a scholarship or nancial
aid or college; only about 4 in 10 got this kind o help
compared with more than hal o those who believe that
they received better counseling.
Finally, students who come rom amilies with less
education are more likely to rate their guidance as air
or poor when it came to helping them decide which
college was right or them.
better advICe would be welCome
When the survey asked young people to rate a dozen
dierent ideas that might help them to successully complete
college and other postsecondary programs, 72 percent said
that the opportunity to talk with advisers who know all
about the dierent college and job-training programs so you
can make a good choice would help a lot. Tose numbers
rise to 91 percent among young Arican-Americans and 82
percent among young Hispanics. Young people identiy anumber o reorms and proposals that could help them (see
With Teir Whole Lives Ahead o Tem or entire list:
http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadothem?qt_
active=1), but it is noteworthy that improved advice and
counseling in high schools ranks at least as high as ideas like
having better access to student loans, providing day care or
college students and improving teaching at the college level
so that the classes are more interesting and relevant.
e s s i
css k is i i i css ix is
How would you rate your high school
counselors when it comes to helping you
decide what school was right for you?
0 20 40 60 80 100%
Those who say they usually felt like
just another face in the crowd
Poor Fair
Those who say their counselors usually
made an effort to really get to know them
Poor Fair
15% 30% 45%
54% 35% 89%
bs: ask f s 2230
s ssc ci.
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Finding Three: hi sc css i s ss f cs
Te dismal ratings young people give their high school
counselors would be disturbing under any circumstances,
but the act that young people typically give their
teachers and mentors better ratings in this area is notable.
It suggests that, at least as the young people themselves
see it, a malunctioning counseling system is a particu-
larly conspicuous gap.
Based on what high school students and young adults
report in this and other research conducted by Public
Agenda, educators overall are playing a remarkably positiverole in motivating young people to go on to college and
continue learning. Solid majorities o young adults rom
diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds report that they had
a teacher who really took an interest in them personally
and encouraged them to go to college.15 Most say that
they had a teacher or coach who really inspired them and
motivated them to do their best. One young man rom
St. Louis interviewed or this project specically men-
tioned that his teachers were more helpul than his
guidance counselors, who really dont care about you. He
turned instead to his advanced biology teacher becausesome teachers, they care. You can just tell.
Not only have educators done a good job o encouraging
young people to adopt college as a goal, but they, along
with parents and others, have also convinced most
students that knowledge and know-how are valuable
assets in todays world. Most young people say their
parents actively encouraged them to attend college.16
More than 8 in 10 o those surveyed here say that even i
they knew there were lots o good jobs or people without
degrees, they would still make the decision to go toschool because what you learn there is so important.17
y s s f
i i sc cs ccs
* Sc: lif af hi Sc,
pic a, 2005.
bs: ask f s 1825.
0 20 40 60 80 100%
They had a teacher who really took an interest in them
personally and encouraged them to go to college*
They had a teacher or coach in high school who really
inspired them and motivated them to do their best*
75%
67%
Percent of young adults who say that:
15 pic a. lif af hi Sc: y p tk
ti pscs, n yk: a, 2005.
16 Ii.
17 pic a. wi ti w lis a f t, n
yk: a, 2009.
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Finding Four: aiss i ciisiis is, s f i
Te young people surveyed here give somewhat more
positive reviews to the advisers and counselors they
encounter at the postsecondary level. Six in 10 give their
college advisers good or excellent ratings or helping
them decide what classes to take. Te numbers are
somewhat less positive or helping them understand how
to get loans and scholarships; roughly hal o the respon-
dents give their counselors good or excellent ratings in
this area, while 4 in 10 rate them air or poor.
Colleges and universities also perorm reasonably well.
Eighty percent o the young adults give their schools
good or excellent ratings or oering interestingcourses, and 75 percent give the schools good or
excellent ratings or their remedial programs. One result
that should prompt some urther research is that young
people who do not believe they were well counseled in
high school are considerably less likely to give their college
good reviews on remedial courses. Whereas 59 percent o
the well-counseled students rated their college-level
remedial programs as excellent, just 1 in 5 o the poorly
counseled students say the same. It is not clear rom this
study whether these poor reviews stem rom a mismatch
between the student and the schoolsomething thatmight be mitigated by better counselingor whether these
students have more severe academic shortalls, something
that counselors have limited powers to address.
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why taCKle thIS problem now
President Barack Obama is one o many leaders ingovernment, business, education and the nonprot sector
who has stressed the need or the United States to
increase the number o Americans with college degrees
and certicates and has urged a concerted eort to help
students who start college successully complete their
degrees. Tis mission is especially urgent at the nations
community colleges, where only 1 out o 5 students has
earned a degree three years ater starting classes.
I the United States is to meet its higher education goals
and reduce its unacceptably high college dropout rates, weneed to look candidly at the various actors contributing to
the problem. Clearly, academic preparation in high school
is a actor, as are the nancial issues that arise when college
tuition costs outpace the growth in amily incomes. Since
2000, tuition prices have gone up even as amily incomes
have stagnated or declined. Indeed, according to an
analysis by the National Center or Public Policy and
Higher Education, the nancial burden o paying or
college costs has increased substantially, particularly or
low- and middle-income amilies, even when scholarships
and grants are taken into account.18
the newS may be hard to hear
But based on the responses here, the high school
guidance system is another actor that educators and
policymakers need to look at. When it comes to
acilitating students transition rom high school to
college or work, the current system is seriously under-
serving those it is intended to help. For the proession
itsel, the intense criticism young adults have or their
guidance counselors may be hard to absorb, especially
given the absurdly high studentcounselor ratios in
many public schools and the nerve-racking juggling act
that counselors oten have to perorm.
But sugarcoating the reality that emerges here, or trying
to hide it, does not serve the counseling eld in the long
run. Our hope is that this research, based on what young
people themselves say about their high school experi-
ences, will open up a broad, orthright reexamination o
the high school guidance counseling system. We hope it
will spur changes that will make the counselors role more
eective and more proessionally ullling.
IS It tIme For a lIttlehelp From Some FrIendS?
We also hope the ndings here will generate innovative
thinking about ways other institutions and otherentities could lend a hand. Perhaps higher education,
business and local civic and community groups could
provide trained volunteers who could help high school
graduates better understand the higher education
choices open to them. Maybe its time or a higher
education eHarmony.comsome type o online
resource that introduces students to the best potential
college matches or them, given their distinct skills and
aspirations. Maybe social networking that brings
aspiring high school students together with students and
proessors could play a useul role.
In the end, however, it seems obvious to us that young
people who are completing high school and aspiring to
go to college deserve better advice. At the very least, they
deserve the opportunity to talk seriously with adults
counselors, teachers, amily members and otherswho
take a strong personal interest in their utures and have
the time and skill to guide them through this period o
decision and change.
18 t ni C f pic pic hi eci. msi u 2008: t ni r C hi eci.
ri f: ://si2008.ici./i/nCpphemunir.f, 2008.
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Total
=614%
S1. o, sisfi issisfi i is i f fi ?
Satised 80%
Dissatised 19%
Dont know/Reused *
[Note: Tere is no Q1-7.]
Q8. w si , i s is?
Business administration/Accounting/Marketing 18%
Education/Early childhood education/Child care 8%Liberal arts 5%
Art/Fine arts/Perorming arts 5%
Nursing 6%
Health care 7%
Computer science/Inormation technology 5%
General studies 4%
Science 4%
Psychology 3%
Criminal justice/Criminology 2%
Engineering 3%
Social sciences(anthropology, geography, history, political science and sociology)
3%
Religious studies 1%
Cosmetology 1%
Culinary arts 1%
Environmental studies 1%
Communication 4%
Counseling 0%
Economics/Finance 3%
Law 2%
Social work 2%
Agriculture 1%
Skilled trades 0%
Other 8%
Dont know 3%
Full Survey reSultS
rss f ss 0.5 c siifi sisk. rss f z siifi s.
rsss s 100 c i i. Cii s cis
c si isccis s i s s ss s i .
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Total
=614%
Q9. bi s isic s c, ic ik is ik i x 10 s?
I will be on track toward a successul career 88%
I am not sure i I will be closer to a successul career 10%
Dont know 2%
Q10. I i is f ss sci s s i c.
ps if is i c s.
I , i k if c
Strongly agree 64%Somewhat agree 22%
Somewhat disagree 8%
Strongly disagree 4%
Dont know 2%
C is f s js ik sc
Strongly agree 50%
Somewhat agree 39%
Somewhat disagree 6%
Strongly disagree 5%
Dont know *I k k ii c
Strongly agree 41%
Somewhat agree 37%
Somewhat disagree 14%
Strongly disagree 7%
Dont know 1%
[Note: Tere is no Q11.]
Q12. ps ic cs cs i, if i is xc i.
In this economic climate, it is really essential to have a college degree 54%
Because o the economic climate, everyone is having a hard timegetting a job, so having a college degree doesnt really help that much
45%
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
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Total
=614%
Q13. ps ic cs cs i, if i is xc i.
I there were plenty o good jobs available without an advanceddegree, I probably would not have gone to school ater high school
14%
I would still make the decision to go to school because what you learn there is so important 86%
Dont know 1%
[Note: Tere is no Q14.]
Q15. d ik c, s ji f qifi c i s, ik qifi i s?
Have the opportunity to go 34%
Do not have the opportunity to go 62%
Dont know 3%
Q16. I cic f fis, ik s iss s s f
c, is i si k , is i js si i xc?
Most people are really impressed 33%
Something they look down at 3%
Just something routine and expected 62%
Dont know 2%
Q17. wic f fi is ? F c s
My degree is all I need 29%
I need another degree besides the one I have 61%
I dont even need my degree 9%
Dont know 1%
Q18. h s ss sci ss f cii cif i sc. ps cs c cs scii .
I cs I j i i sc
Very close 32%
Somewhat close 36%
Not too close 11%
Not close at all 21%
Dont know
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 19
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22/45
Total
=614%
I cs s s isi i ic f i ci
Very close 51%
Somewhat close 26%
Not too close 9%
Not close at all 14%
Dont know
I cs I i k I f i sc
Very close 22%Somewhat close 23%
Not too close 14%
Not close at all 41%
Dont know *
I cs c I scific qis i
Very close 50%
Somewhat close 22%
Not too close 10%
Not close at all 18%
Dont know *
I cs s f fis i
Very close 9%
Somewhat close 13%
Not too close 17%
Not close at all 60%
Dont know *
I , c is c i
Very close 31%
Somewhat close 35%
Not too close 13%
Not close at all 21%
Dont know *
Full Survey reSultS
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23/45
Total
=614%
Q19. If sc, s ik fis . t s, ic f
sc s ? ws i ? [bas: thos who a mor ha o yp o schoo ar high schoo.]
rade or vocational school or program 9%
wo year or community college (associates degree) 53%
Four-year college (Bachelor o Arts or Science degree) 38%
Dont know *
Q20. ws is ic i sc?
Public 79%Private 20%
Dont know 1%
[Note: Tere is no Q21.]
Q22. wic cs cs i: [bas: thos who wai a yar or mor o gi schoo.]
It would have been easier or me overall to have startedclasses immediately ater high school
50%
Waiting beore starting classes was the right choiceI would not have been ready or it
49%
Dont know 1%
[Note: Tere is no Q23.]
Q24. t ss i ick sc ick. Si iki fis sc
f i sc, s if c f fi is s sc is sc.
t cic i f sc
Major reason 46%
Minor reason 27%
Not a reason at all 27%
Dont know *
rcis f fis fi s
Major reason 26%
Minor reason 32%
Not a reason at all 42%
Dont know *
I s ci c I i k
Major reason 53%
Minor reason 20%
Not a reason at all 27%
Dont know
Full Survey reSultS
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24/45
Total
=614%
t ii fs ff
Major reason 57%
Minor reason 23%
Not a reason at all 19%
Dont know
I c sciiz j i xc sjc I s is i
Major reason 54%
Minor reason 22%Not a reason at all 23%
Dont know *
I css sc k i sc
Major reason 44%
Minor reason 23%
Not a reason at all 33%
Dont know *
I i f
Major reason 19%
Minor reason 27%
Not a reason at all 54%
Dont know
I s s I s i i
Major reason 41%
Minor reason 30%
Not a reason at all 29%
Dont know
t sc ff scsi fici i
Major reason 38%
Minor reason 18%
Not a reason at all 44%
Dont know
Full Survey reSultS
22 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here?
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25/45
Total
=614%
t sc ss -cic s i
Major reason 15%
Minor reason 17%
Not a reason at all 68%
Dont know *
I i is sc j s f I
Major reason 56%
Minor reason 25%Not a reason at all 20%
Dont know
Q23r. I s, s is i s cs is sc?[Rcor vraim rspos]
Convenient/close to home/work 25%
Oered the major/program I want 14%
Good/quality education/teachers/reputation 10%
Liked it/elt right or me/atmosphere 10%
Location 9%
Aordable 8%Family members/riends attend(ed)/amily connection/parents choice 5%
o better mysel/my job opportunities 5%
Have a scholarship/ree ride 4%
Where I was accepted/only option 4%
Other 3%
As a stepping-stone to a our-year/another college 2%
Good sports program/to play a sport 2%
Q25. Si iki fis i sc, s if is scis , i .
I s f si I
A lot 14%
A little 34%
Not at all 52%
Dont know
Full Survey reSultS
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26/45
Total
=614%
I i ii c s
A lot 11%
A little 24%
Not at all 64%
Dont know
I f i i f
A lot 6%
A little 15%Not at all 79%
Dont know *
I k s , i s sssf i
A lot 29%
A little 28%
Not at all 43%
Dont know
I s c i sciizi i si
A lot 18%
A little 30%
Not at all 52%
Dont know *
I f i i i css
A lot 12%
A little 27%
Not at all 61%
Dont know
I s s i s c f
A lot 15%
A little 28%
Not at all 57%
Dont know
Full Survey reSultS
24 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here?
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27/45
Total
=614%
t cs f xks fs sis ii ffc fici
A lot 28%
A little 31%
Not at all 41%
Dont know
Q26. Si iki fis i sc, i k i css ?
Yes 16%
No 83%Didnt go to college/was in a vocational/technical school or program (VOL) *
Dont know 1%
Q27. tiki fis sc f i sc, c f fi:
t iss i i ci csss k
Excellent 25%
Good 34%
Fair 26%
Poor 13%
Dont know 1%
t sc i ffi css isi
Excellent 35%
Good 45%
Fair 18%
Poor 2%
Dont know *
t fici i iss i i s s scsis
Excellent 19%
Good 31%
Fair 25%
Poor 15%
Dont know 7%
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 25
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8/6/2019 Can I Get a Little Advice Here
28/45
Total
=614%
t i csss i i f f c k [bas: thos who hav ak ay rmia courss.]
Excellent 40%
Good 35%
Fair 17%
Poor 8%
Dont know
Q28. If s iss, i s sc i,
i iff sc?
Same school 57%
Dierent school 41%
Dont know 2%
[Note: Tere is no Q29 or Q30.]
Q31. di f fi f sc f i sc?
a scsi fici i
Yes 45%
No 54%
Dont know *
ls f s s
Yes 45%
No 55%
Dont know
ps is
Yes 55%
No 45%
Dont know
Q32. di s is f f ii, s f i, i, i f s
css f sc f ii? [bas: thos whos pars or ohr raivs hp pay or schoo.]
All 35%Some tuition 35%
Only a little 14%
Some other costs o school but not or tuition 15%
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
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29/45
Total
=614%
Q32b. a ssi f i ff s, s s i ff?[bas: thos who ha oas o hp pay or schoo.]
I am paying o the loans 86%
My parents are paying them o 7%
Both/neither (VOL) 6%
Q33. tiki s k f sc, s [bas: thos who ha oas o hp payor schoo, who hav comp hir program a ar prsoay rsposi or payig ack oas.]
You have a long way to go beore your loans are paid o 33%
You think they will be paid o in the next ew years 45%
Tey are already paid o 20%
Tey will never be paid o (VOL) 1%
Dont know *
Q34. tiki i sc s, s k s c s s
, ik c i i k ?
Worked hard to learn 34%
Could have paid a lot more attention and worked harder 64%
Dont know 1%
Q35. w i i sc, i s k i ci i ci?
Yes, I always knew was going to continue on to higher education 77%
No 23%
Dont know *
[Note: Tere is no Q36.]
Q37. wic f s ss ik is s cc xic?
My teachers and counselors in high school probably thought I would go to college right ater highschool
78%
My teachers and counselors probably thought I was not going to college ater high school 21%
Dont know 1%
Q38. h sci fis i i sc? w s f si
i sc, s f si f f fis si i sc?
Nearly all o them studied hard 16%
Most o them studied hard 46%
Only a ew o them studied hard 37%
None studied hard (VOL) 1%
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 27
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8/6/2019 Can I Get a Little Advice Here
30/45
Total
=614%
Q39. F c scii I , s if ik i i i i sc .
a s
Denitely applied to me 46%
Somewhat applied to me 44%
Did not apply to me 10%
Dont know
a i f cs
Denitely applied to me 12%Somewhat applied to me 31%
Did not apply to me 56%
Dont know 1%
a
Denitely applied to me 30%
Somewhat applied to me 33%
Did not apply to me 37%
Dont know
S ik i
Denitely applied to me 48%
Somewhat applied to me 42%
Did not apply to me 10%
Dont know
a i f
Denitely applied to me 22%
Somewhat applied to me 38%
Did not apply to me 40%
Dont know
S i ik sii i css
Denitely applied to me 23%
Somewhat applied to me 32%
Did not apply to me 45%
Dont know *
Full Survey reSultS
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Total
=614%
a i f k
Denitely applied to me 11%
Somewhat applied to me 18%
Did not apply to me 71%
Dont know
Q40. wic f s cs cs scii xics i css i i sc?
Te counselors usually made an eort to really get to know me and
to treat me as an individual
47%
I usually elt I was just another ace in the crowd 48%
I never had any experiences with counselors in high school (VOL) 2%
Dont know 1%
Q41. h i sc css i fi s?[bas: thos who ha xprics wih cousors.]
hi ik iff kis f cs i s
Excellent 14%
Good 22%
Fair 33%
Poor 29%Dont know 2%
hi ci sc s i f
Excellent 13%
Good 17%
Fair 32%
Poor 35%
Dont know 2%
exii i i ici css
Excellent 18%
Good 25%Fair 25%
Poor 29%
Dont know 2%
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 29
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8/6/2019 Can I Get a Little Advice Here
32/45
Total
=614%
hi fi s f c, ik fici i scsi s
Excellent 15%
Good 22%
Fair 26%
Poor 33%
Dont know 4%
Q42. n I i s ss sci i sc cs s
s cs f i sc. F c f fi, s if i is i
sc cs, cs f i sc s.
I c k si I qsi s i
High school teachers 26%
eachers you have had ater high school 20%
About the same 53%
Dont know 1%
I f I c if I s s ffci sck
High school teachers 34%
eachers you had ater high school 20%
About the same 40%
Dont know 3%
t ski i ki sjc c i
High school teachers 18%
eachers you had ater high school 37%
About the same 43%
Dont know 1%
t s i i css s
High school teachers 16%
eachers you had ater high school 42%
About the same 41%Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
30 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here?
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33/45
Total
=614%
Q43. tiki s sc , f c f fi, s if i is s
i c . [bas: thos who i o comp a posscoary program.]
I jus cou aor h uiio a s
Major reason 31%
Minor reason 21%
Not a reason 46%
Dont know 2%
I f csss i
Major reason 14%
Minor reason 31%
Not a reason 52%
Dont know 2%
I k f sc
Major reason 21%
Minor reason 33%
Not a reason 44%
Dont know 2%
a is csi, i js i s I s i
Major reason 14%
Minor reason 21%
Not a reason 62%
Dont know 2%
I k csss I i ik sf
Major reason 16%
Minor reason 27%
Not a reason 55%
Dont know 2%
S f csss iffic
Major reason 10%
Minor reason 24%
Not a reason 63%
Dont know 2%
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 31
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8/6/2019 Can I Get a Little Advice Here
34/45
Total
=614%
I i ik sii i css
Major reason 11%
Minor reason 27%
Not a reason 60%
Dont know 2%
I k k
Major reason 54%
Minor reason 17%Not a reason 28%
Dont know 2%
I i i f fi
Major reason 16%
Minor reason 25%
Not a reason 57%
Dont know 3%
[Note: Tere is no Q44.]
Q45. h c i i ck sc f , s
? [bas: thos who i o comp a posscoary program.]A lot o thought 65%
Some thought 24%
No thought at all 9%
Dont know 2%
Q46. w s sis k i scific sc, k i s
s i k i ic sc i s?[bas: thos who hav hough aou goig ack o schoo.]
Seriously looked at some specic schools 38%
Have not yet looked but plan on doing so soon 37%
Not going to look into a particular school or program anytime soon 23%
Already chosen/accepted into a school (VOL) 1%
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
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Total
=614%
Q47. Ss i ii cs c ii ks. w
i f ck sc i s if s ?[bas: thos who i o comp a posscoary program.]
Hard to go back 36%
Pretty easy to do 57%
Dont know 5%
Q48. F c f fi, is is s i si f ck sc?[bas: thos who say i wou har go ack o schoo.]
I si ff c
Major reason 26%
Minor reason 29%
Not a reason at all 43%
Dont know 2%
I fi cis
Major reason 56%
Minor reason 19%
Not a reason at all 26%
Dont know 2%
I k f-i, I ik I c k sc s i
Major reason 56%
Minor reason 19%
Not a reason at all 23%
Dont know 2%
I ik c cc
Major reason 7%
Minor reason 15%
Not a reason at all 75%
Dont know 2%n sc s csss fi sc
Major reason 17%
Minor reason 31%
Not a reason at all 48%
Dont know 3%
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 33
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8/6/2019 Can I Get a Little Advice Here
36/45
Total
=614%
n sc ss I is i
Major reason 14%
Minor reason 18%
Not a reason at all 67%
Dont know 2%
[Note: Tere is no Q49.]
Q50. w s csi c j cc, s i si i f qi s i? [bas: thos who i o comp a posscoary program aar curr mpoys.]
Chose current job more by chance 61%
Hoping to do or quite some time 37%
Dont know 1%
[Note: Tere is no Q51.]
Q52. w s i c j sii s f f , s if ci, s c ?[bas: thos who i o comp a posscoary program who ar curry mpoy.]
Teres plenty o room or you to grow and move up 50%
Teres room to move up but only i you get more education 23%
Teres not much room to move up 28%Q53. F c f fi, s c ik is s s
cicscs sii s f i sc i i c .
h ff c s
A lot 71%
A little 22%
Not much 3%
Not at all 3%
Dont know 1%
t i k i iss k iff c j-ii s s ck cic
A lot 72%
A little 23%
Not much 1%
Not at all 2%
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
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Total
=614%
C cs f i c 25 c
A lot 82%
A little 13%
Not much 1%
Not at all 2%
Dont know 1%
a -i ss qif f fici i
A lot 76%A little 19%
Not much 1%
Not at all 3%
Dont know 1%
mk c ici css si
A lot 46%
A little 34%
Not much 8%
Not at all 11%
Dont know 1%
p csss i
A lot 53%
A little 29%
Not much 8%
Not at all 8%
Dont know 2%
pi isc ss, s ki csss i
A lot 61%
A little 25%
Not much 5%
Not at all 7%
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 35
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8/6/2019 Can I Get a Little Advice Here
38/45
Total
=614%
pi c f ss i
A lot 66%
A little 23%
Not much 2%
Not at all 6%
Dont know 2%
mk s ss s is i i sc s f c k
A lot 77%A little 18%
Not much 1%
Not at all 3%
Dont know 1%
off css i is, ks i s s c k i i sc
A lot 74%
A little 21%
Not much 2%
Not at all 2%
Dont know 1%
I ci s csss isi
A lot 67%
A little 24%
Not much 4%
Not at all 4%
Dont know 1%
h s f ss is i s- i, icsis css k
A lot 71%
A little 23%
Not much 2%
Not at all 2%
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
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39/45
Total
=614%
Q54. a f iff is s s ik , ic i
ik the moSt? [bas: thos who sai mor ha o opio i Q53 wou hp a o.]
More government loans or college 9%
Te opportunity to talk with advisers who know all about the dierent collegeand job-training programs so you can make a good choice
8%
Cut the cost o attending college by 25 percent 35%
Allow part-time students to qualiy or nancial aid 6%
Make the college application process easier *
Put more classes online 4%
Provide health insurance to all students, even those takingclasses part-time
4%
Provide day care or students that need it 6%
Make sure students learn good study habits in high school so theyre prepared or college work 9%
Oer more courses in the evenings, on weekends or in the summerso people can work while attending school
7%
Improve teaching so the classes are more interesting and relevant 4%
Have more programs or students who are interested in hands-on learning, apprenticeshipsand nonclassroom work
5%
Dont know 1%
d10. h i is i ci, ci i c, c?
a i , s i is [bas: thos who hav chir i h housho.]
Very important 82%
Somewhat important 16%
Not too important 1%
Not at all important *
Dont know 1%
Full Survey reSultS
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 37
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Total
%
g
m 47%
F 53%
his eci
S c
d 29%
tcic/ci sc i ss 2%
t- ci c i ss 6%
F- i ss 5%
tcic/ci sc 6%
t- ci c 7%
F- c isi 29%
g sc i ss 8%
g sc 9%
eci icii ( cssi ci)
t ci sc 25%
t- ci c 59%
F- c isi 66%
F icsi 19%
mii 7%
ti f ici ssc ci
wii six s 54%
wii 11%
wii s 8%
wii f s 17%l 9%
C s
F-i s 49%
p-i s 31%
Js ki css 19%
e ss
F-i 61%
p-i 16%
ri 1%
n 19%
(vol) hk 1%
(vol) S 2%
(vol) dis 1%
CharaCterIStICS oF the Sample
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CharaCterIStICS oF the Sample
Total
%
mi ss
mi 36%
lii s i 4%
dic 2%
S 2%
wi *
n i/Si 55%
n f ci i s
Z 60%
o 21%
t 12%
t 7%
C ii
a i s 14%
d c si 1%
S c i s 14%
o c 60%
o 11%
t s ic i 2008
u $15,000 12%
$15,000 $25,000 12%
$25,000 $35,000 15%
$35,000 $50,000 19%
$50,000 $75,000 16%
$75,000 21%hs siz i i sc [bas: thos who o o curry iv wih hir pars.]
o 5%
t 18%
F 34%
Fi 25%
Six 17%
hi sc [bas: thos who o o curry iv wih hir pars.]
Si-fi s 86%
o ki f i 14%
t s 2%
dx -fi 2%
Cii 1%
a 5%
ti i (vol) 1%
o 4%
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 39
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42/45
Total
%
Fi fici sii ii [bas: thos who o o curry iv wih hir pars.]
g x c 47%
m s , s i f c 41%
h i c 10%
d k/fs 2%
ps ci
a i sc i qi 28%
a cic ci cific 8%
t- sscis 9%
F- cs 23%
g 22%
Si s (SpeCIFy) 1%
n/b s ss i sc i (vol) 6%
d k/rfs 3%
rc/eici
wi 67%
bck 11%
hisic 12%
asi 6%
o 3%
d k/rfs 3%
uici
m 86%
n 14%
Css rins 18%
mis 24%
S 35%
ws 23%
CharaCterIStICS oF the Sample
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gi if if s q , bi & mi gs Fi
ks , ci is. I i cis, i
fcss ii s ii cc if ss
f x . I ui Ss, i sks s
sci s i fs scs ccss iis
scc i sc i if. bs i S, wsi, fi
is Ceo Jff riks c-ci wii h. gs S., ici f bi
mi gs w bff.
t s f C I g li aic h? ik k fi f i s ssisc i i f is :
o s bi & mi gs Fi i S, wsi fii s i i cc is sc f x isss i csi is;
a wi, f f Js f F, f is ciis cci f jc is i cs s;
d ykic b l f i isis ic;
Sc bi f is ici ssisc;
S ws f i ci is ci xc si;
miss Fs f ii k i f ic;
Fci gc, di wi, pii C ais rizz, f pica.,f ci isici i ifi i si f is ;
a pic a psi r a. w f isi, isi ic.
Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 41
about the bIll & melInda gateS FoundatIon
our thanKS
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44/45
F i 1975 sci sciis di ykic f u.S.
Sc f S Cs vc, pic a ks is s s ics i f i ciizs s
ciic ic isss. o i- sc ciizs ik ic s
is f is ciii fiss f c fficis f iic is
f xs cisi ks css iic sc. o ciiz ci
is -ii si, pica., ff is ifi
cs c fcs. tic i f siis w
f s iic si, pica. is csi ifi
i f ic isss.
oFFICerS
Daniel YankelovichChairman and Co-Founder
Lloyd MorrisettChairman, Executive Committee
Co-Founder
Cyrus Vance (19172002)Former Secretary o State
honorary memberS
Peter G. PetersonChairman, Peter G. Peterson Foundation
Sidney HarmanFormer Chairman/CEO,Harman International Industries, Inc.
Bobby R. InmanAdmiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)
board oF dIreCtorS
David ColemanFounder, Student Achievement Partners, LLC
Philip HowardVice-Chairman, Covington & Burling,and Founder, Common Good
Alice S. HuangSenior Faculty Associate,Caliornia Institute o echnology
Ann KirschnerUniversity Dean, Macaulay Honors Collegeat the City University o New York
Alan I. LeshnerChie Executive Ofcer, American Associationor the Advancement o Science
David MathewsPresident, Charles F. Kettering Foundation
Judith Davidson Moyers
President, Public Aairs elevision, Inc.
Deborah WadsworthSenior Adviser, Public Agenda
Mitchel WallersteinDean, Maxwell School o Citizenshipand Public Aairs, Syracuse University
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