High School Students' Perspectives on Academic Preparedness for College

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Academic preparedness is crucial for student success in college, encompassing both academic performance indicators and noncognitive behaviors [1][2] - A significant percentage of students entering college are not adequately prepared, with about 70% of students in 2-year institutions and 40% in 4-year institutions needing remedial courses [2] - The study highlights the importance of understanding students' perspectives on academic preparedness to improve support systems [3][7] Summary by Sections Academic Preparedness Definitions - Students define academic preparedness in various ways, with key categories including readiness for college-level courses, mastery of foundational knowledge, good study strategies, rigorous high school courses, and good grades [9][10][12][13][16] Self-Assessment of Preparedness - A majority of students believe they have at least a 50% chance of earning a B or higher in first-year college courses, with high agreement rates for English Composition I (97%) and college algebra (89%) [17] - Some students overestimate their preparedness, with discrepancies between self-assessment and ACT Benchmark scores [18][19] Evidence for Evaluating Preparedness - Students commonly use multiple measures to evaluate their academic preparedness, with 81% citing high school GPA and others considering standardized test scores and course difficulty [21][23] - Accurate self-evaluation is linked to the use of diverse academic measures [21][22] Factors Influencing Academic Preparedness - Key factors associated with academic preparedness include the number of college-credit-bearing courses taken, study skills, and availability of academic resources [29][30][71] - Students from different racial/ethnic backgrounds and income levels show disparities in the number of college-credit-bearing courses taken [30][36] Supports and Behaviors for Preparedness - Students identify advanced courses, study skills, professional support from knowledgeable adults, and personal support from family and friends as crucial for academic preparedness [51][52][53] - Developing study skills and establishing social and emotional behaviors, such as work ethic and determination, are also emphasized [60][62][72] Recommendations for High Schools - High schools should help students understand and utilize multiple academic measures for evaluating preparedness, encourage enrollment in college-credit-bearing courses, and provide access to academic resources [73][74][75][76][77]