The Impact of the Pandemic on Students' Postsecondary Decisions

• In Event: Catalysts for Change: School Counselors Tackle Inequitable Educational Opportunity, Racial Injustice, and COVID-19

Abstract

Objectives or purposes
This study will assess the degree to which the pandemic impacted students’ postsecondary plans ranging from career/college exposure, college/financial aid applications, and postsecondary decisions and translate data findings into practical applications for school counselors and programs to adapt college/career advising in a post-covid environment.

Perspective(s) or theoretical framework
Prior to the pandemic approximately 69 percent of high school graduates enrolled in college the Fall immediately following high school graduation, totaling approximately 2.2 million students (Hussar et al., 2020). Although high school graduation rates remained steady for the class of 2019-2020, direct high school to college enrollment fell 6.8% percent (National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 2020). The disproportionate impact of COVID19 in communities of color revealed what many educators already knew – educational opportunity is interwoven with wealth and privilege (Hines et al., 2021). These dramatic losses may be even greater for the high school class of 2021 (Goldman & Korn, 2020; Hines et al., 2021; Watson & Pananjady, 2020).

Methods, techniques, or modes of inquiry
Approximately two thousand five hundred 2021 high school seniors took a survey to understand how the pandemic had impacted their postsecondary decision. The survey, developed by SDSU and ACT, built on the work of McKinsey, Strada, New America, and Third Way, who have been conducting surveys throughout the pandemic to understand changing attitudes and patterns of college enrollment. The survey will be administered again Fall 2021 and these data will be shared at AERA.

Data sources, evidence, objects, or materials
In May 2021, a random sample (n=75,000) of high school students who took the ACT® test in their senior year were asked to patriciate in an online survey. A total of 2438 students graduated from high school in 2021, aspired to enroll in a postsecondary institution in the 2021–2022 school year, and answered more than 50% of the questions, which was used as their analytical sample. Additionally, 100 surveys were collected from one high school in southern California. The survey will be administered by school districts across the country in Fall 2021.

Results and/or substantiated conclusions or warrants for arguments/point of view
Based on our preliminary analysis of the ACT data, we found:
• Two-thirds (67%) of students had significant or some concerns about being able to pay college-related bills, and about half (46%) concerned about being able to purchase technology needed for college. The level of concerns was higher among students from low-income families and first-generation college students.
• Almost two-thirds of students were greatly (15%) or somewhat (50%) concerned that the pandemic had negatively impacted their academic preparedness for college and/or career goals.

Scientific or scholarly significance of the study or work
While we have a general understanding of why students are not enrolling, this research provides a deeper understanding of regional differences and the unique needs of student groups and their communities. The authors of this research are continuing with more in-depth data analyses in efforts to draw evidence-based conclusions in the development of the research paper and recommendations moving forward.

Authors

• Laura Owen, San Diego State University

• Tricia Hodge, San Diego State University

• Kimberly Hanauer

• Raeal Moore, Evaluation Data Solutions, LLC

• Joyce Zhou-Yile Schnieders, ACT, Inc.