Navigating Digital Gatekeepers: A Scoping Review of Electronic Word-of-Mouth in College Admissions Pathways

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 11:45 am - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Online/Technology

Abstract

Prospective college students around the world increasingly rely on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM)—peer-generated posts, reviews, and discussions—to navigate the college admissions process. While research often focuses on access and decision-making, few studies examine how digital platforms, algorithms, and peer networks together shape what information students encounter, trust, or use. Using PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this scoping review synthesizes 18 empirical studies to analyze how researchers conceptualize and investigate eWOM in college admissions. Findings highlight both the potential of eWOM to expand access while also potentially reproducing misinformation and inequity. In line with the 2026 annual meeting theme, this paper highlights longstanding equity research while also calling for future-oriented studies that must not ignore sociotechnical systems as key forces shaping educational opportunity.

Author

• Kayla S. Burt, Massachusetts Institute of Technology