Study Highlights: Study of Enhanced College Advising in Upward Bound: Impacts on Steps Toward College
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Study Highlights: Study of Enhanced College Advising in Upward Bound: Impacts on Steps Toward College

Published: Oct 18, 2018
Publisher: Washington, DC: National Center for Education Evaluation, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education
Human Services Education College and Career Readiness STEM
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Associated Project

Study of Enhanced College Advising in Upward Bound

Time frame: 2013-2020

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences

Authors

Alina Martinez

Tamara Linkow

Hannah Miller

Amanda Parsad

Key Findings

Key findings show that the Find the Fit did the following:

  • Increased the share of students who applied to four or more colleges
  • Led students to apply to more-selective colleges
  • Had no impact on the importance students placed on academic quality in choosing a college
  • Did not affect the share of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid early

A program called Find the Fit, which combines personalized planning materials and text messaging for students, and training webinars for advisors, increased the number and selectivity of colleges to which students apply. This report, the first from a six-year study, determined that Find the Fit led to some changes in the advising within Upward Bound and in students’ actions related to enrolling in a more selective college. This work was conducted under subcontract to Abt Associates.

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