Innovations in Improving Access to Higher Education

Gaining an understanding about the barriers in transitioningfrom high school to college is crucial to improving college accessand matriculation--particularly for low-income families andfirst-generation college-goers. These obstacles include manyfactors, such as:* Lack of access to resources at home or school* Not having a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum or nottaking advantage of these courses* Misperceptions about the college-going process.This volume introduces innovative and effective ways to ease thetransition process. One essential question examined is the role ofhigh schools and whether they should take a more active role inpreparing students for college. While some interventions in thisissue are designed for school-wide implementation, others are moretargeted and focus on certain aspects of the college process suchas financial aid, but all recognize the role of high schools inshaping students' college-going aspirations andbehavior.By including the most cutting-edge and rigorous research onimproving college access, this volume:* Delineates the obstacles adolescents face in their transitionfrom high school to college* Increases understanding of the mechanisms contributing to gapsin college enrollment* Highlights how interventions can help to ease thesechallenges.This is the 140th volume of New Directions for YouthDevelopment, the Jossey-Bass quarterly report seriesdedicated to bringing together everyone concerned with helpingyoung people, including scholars, practitioners, and people fromdifferent disciplines and professions.