Junior high students weigh in on college search
Junior high school students are actively reviewing their college choices. A survey of high school juniors by Niche and Tudor Collegiate Strategies found that only eight percent of the class hasn’t started their college search. Of the remainder, 68 percent said they were “actively researching about building my list to consider” and 25 percent said they had “already narrowed down my list.” The survey found that 66 percent of the students prefer in-person events and visits to virtual equivalents. But just 29 percent have made an in-person visit in the past year. The pandemic has changed how 47 percent of students feel about attending college:
- 53 percent said it feels riskier to attend, but they still plan to.
- 38 percent said it feels more important to attend now.
- 5 percent are considering a gap year.
- 5 percent question whether college is a good investment for them.
Source: Inside Higher Ed
Largest drop in international students in over a decade
The American Council on Education found a 16% drop in the number of foreign students at U.S. colleges, with the share of new students sinking 43% last fall among more than 700 colleges. This is the first decrease in the total number of international students in over a decade. The survey among U.S. voters indicates limited support for coordinated efforts to encourage more international students to study in the U.S. Almost half (49%) said the U.S. should “not go out of its way” to grow its international student population. Approximately one-third of respondents said that international students “pose a security threat.”
Source: Higher Ed Dive
Top 20 colleges with hispanic students
According to U.S. News, 14 out of 20 ranked colleges with the highest percentage of Hispanic, undergraduate degree-seeking students in fall 2019 are located in California or Texas. These states also also have the largest Hispanic populations in the U.S. Colleges with 25% or more full-time Hispanic undergrads are designated by the U.S. Department of Education as Hispanic Serving Institutions.
Source: U.S. News
Improvements needed to address inequities in higher education
The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) has found that improvements are needed in three areas to address inequities in higher education. These key areas are student support, funding and operations. “Amid the environment of COVID-19 and social justice protests, students face new and enhanced challenges around physical and mental health, financial ability to attend, and equitable access to technology,” OLC explained. The OLC describes five ways to address these areas of inequity. The report is based on a year of insights gathered from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the United States. The recommendations are also based on the findings of a 2020 HBCU Action Nation Town Hall.
Source: Campus Technology