Can I Get a Little Advice Here?

How an Overstretched High School Guidance System Is Undermining Students’ College Aspirations

A Public Agenda Report for THE Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Can I get a little advice here?

By Jean Johnson and Jon Rochkind with Amber N. Ott and Samantha DuPont

Prepared with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Download a copy of “Can I Get a Little Advice Here?” at http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem?qt_active=1

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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California 94105, USA. Can I Get a Little Advice Here? How an Overstretched High School Guidance System Is Undermining Student’s College Aspirations

IntrodUCtIon ...... 2

FIndIng one ...... 5

FIndIng tWo ...... 7

FIndIng three ...... 12

FIndIng FoUr ...... 13

aBoUt the StUdY ...... 16

FUll SUrveY reSUltS ...... 17

CharaCterIStICS oF the SaMPle ...... 38

oUr thanKS ...... 41

aBoUt the BIll & MelInda gateS FoUndatIon ...... 41

aBoUt PUBlIC agenda ...... 42 Introduction

Deciding whether to go to college, choosing the right school and finding the resources to pay for it—these are pivotal decisions in any young person’s life. Many parents try to help their children make good choices and help them find the financial wherewithal to continue their education. But even well-educated, well-informed parents often find themselves turning to high school guidance counselors for advice on college options, information about loans and scholarships and help with the college application process. For young people whose parents have themselves not had the benefit of higher education, talking with an attentive, well-informed guidance counselor is even more essential.

Unfortunately, recent studies of the guidance system as it operates in public schools today indicate that counselors are often overworked and underprepared when it comes to helping students make the best decisions about their lives after high school. A new survey of young adults aged 22 through 30 conducted by Public Agenda for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation offers disturbing confirmation that, at least in the eyes of students themselves, the system is failing (see http://www.publicagenda. org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem?qt_active=1 for details on the study). Even students who later successfully complete college are surprisingly critical of high school guidance as it operates today.

2 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? Most young adults who go on to college believe that the postsecondary level. But before we discuss the details of the advice of their high school guidance counselors was survey, it is useful—and only fair to those who work as high inadequate and often impersonal and perfunctory. When school guidance counselors—to present some context about asked about their experiences with their counselors in the challenges facing the counseling system nationwide. high school, about half say that they felt like “just another face in the crowd.” Although professional groups such as the American School Counselor Association say that a student–counselor ratio Most troubling, and potentially significant for policymak- of 100 to 1 is optimal, this is far from the typical state of ers, is that young people who characterized their interac- affairs in most public schools. In California, the ratio is tions with guidance counselors as anonymous and closer to 1,000 students for every counselor available. In unhelpful were less likely to go directly from high school Arizona, Minnesota, Utah and the District of Columbia, into a postsecondary program—a decision that is known the ratio is typically more than 700 to 1. Nationwide, the to reduce their chances of successfully completing a degree average is 265 to 1.1 or certificate. These young people were also less likely to say that they had chosen their college or university based It is also important to remember that advising students on explicit criteria such as its academic reputation, the on higher education choices is just one of many things availability of financial aid or the liklihood that it would that guidance counselors do. Studies of how counselors help them get a good job after graduation. spend their time show that much of their effort is devoted to discipline issues and sorting out scheduling A COUNSELING SYSTEM and other administrative mix-ups within the high school. UNDER STRESS In some districts, counselors supervise standardized testing programs.2 They also sometimes fill in as substi- 3 Responses from the more than 600 young adults surveyed tute teachers or assist with other staffing shortages. by Public Agenda, all of whom had begun some form of higher education, suggest that the existing high school Dramatically increasing the number of counselors and guidance system is a perilously weak part of the nation’s giving them more time to confer with students would efforts to increase college attendance and ramp up degree seem to be imperative, but according to some recent completion. As the survey demonstrates, the judgments analyses of the profession, doing so may not be enough. young people make about their high school counselors are Many degree programs for guidance counselors do not often harsh, considerably harsher than the judgments they offer coursework on helping students make the best make about their high school teachers or their advisers at the postsecondary choices or on aiding them and their

1 Clinedinst, M., & Hawkins, D. “State of College Admission,” Alexandria, VA: National Association for College Admission Counseling, 2009. 2 McDonough, P. “Counseling and College Counseling in America’s High Schools,” National Association for College Admission Counseling, 2005. 3 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. “The Condition of Education,” Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2004.

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 3 families to navigate the complicated world of financial institutions ranging from Columbia and City University aid and college loans.4 Although teachers—and principals of New York to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and superintendents—are required to stay abreast of new and the Swedish Institute, A College of Health Sciences.7 trends and information in their fields, most states and But even students in smaller cities have available to them districts do not require professional development for an array of higher education options. Students from guidance counselors.5 Jackson, Mississippi, Falmouth, Maine, or Albuquerque, New Mexico, all have more than a dozen institutions of Today’s high school counselors operate in an educational higher education to choose from in their local areas. And and economic landscape that has changed immensely and none of this is to mention the more than 3,000 possibili- continues to do so. A few decades ago, a high school ties nationwide.8 The recent increase of for-profit colleges, diploma was an adequate gateway to a good job in which began in the 1990s, adds to the prospective manufacturing or in respected fields like firefighting and student’s mix of choices.9 police work. Only a subset of academically oriented students went on to college. Today, however, most good Just as postsecondary education is more necessary than it jobs require a college degree or certification of some kind, was in the past, so too is it likely to be more costly.10 The and the vast majority of families want their children to college and university system, especially its financial side, continue their education beyond high school.6 can seem opaque and convoluted to many students and their parents, especially those from lower-income and less What’s more, the higher education system now offers a well-educated backgrounds. And unfortunately, it is at this potentially bewildering array of choices of schools and moment when many people need more help plotting a programs. A student completing high school in New York course through this world that the professionals charged City who wants to go to college within 25 miles of home with assisting them feel most besieged and overwhelmed. has over 200 institutions to choose from—two- and It’s hardly surprising that they are often not able to keep up four-year schools, public and private schools, and with the demands and expectations placed upon them.

4 McDonough, P. “Counseling Matters: Knowledge, Assistance, and Organizational Commitment in College Preparation,” 2004. 5 Clinedinst, M., & Hawkins, D. “State of College Admission,” Alexandria, VA: National Association for College Admission Counseling, 2009. 6 More than 6 in 10 parents say that a college education is necessary to succeed, and similar numbers say it is very likely that their child will attend college (another quarter say it is somewhat likely). Public Agenda, “Squeeze Play: How Parents and The Public Look at Higher Education Today,” New York: Author, 2007. 7 http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=NY&zc=10016&zd=25&of=3&pg=2. 8 http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator. 9 Public Agenda , “Squeeze Play: How Parents and The Public Look at Higher Education Today.” New York: Author, 2007. 10 t he College Board. “Trends in College Pricing 2009.” Retrieved from: http://www.trends-collegeboard.com/college_pricing/pdf/2009_Trends_College_Pricing.pdf.

4 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? Finding One: Most students, even those The guidance system does at least function at a basic who successfully complete college, give level. When asked about their experiences with guid- their high school guidance counselors fair ance counselors in high school, just 2 percent of those or poor ratings surveyed told us that they didn’t have a guidance Television’s The Simpsons seems to have found a niche counselor in high school or never met with one to depicting the frustrating and degrading situations many of discuss their plans. But “having the meeting” clearly us experience in contemporary life. In one episode, Homer doesn’t mean that the counselors fulfilled the students’ Simpson recalls a lackluster meeting with a guidance needs and expectations. counselor who describes his job as advising any student whose name begins with a letter from “N” to “Z.” Among young adults who graduated from high school and started some form of postsecondary education, fully Sad to say, Homer’s less-than-inspiring conversation with 6 in 10 give their high school guidance counselors “fair” his counselor doesn’t appear to be unusual in today’s high or “poor” ratings for helping them think about different schools. Many of the young adults surveyed by Public careers. Over two-thirds give them “fair” or “poor” Agenda have little good to say about the counseling ratings for helping them decide which school to go to, system, and they give their guidance counselors stun- with 35 percent giving them the lowest possible rating of ningly poor reviews in some crucial categories connected “poor.” The ratings are similarly dreary on giving them with higher education. advice about ways to pay for college or helping them

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 5 Most young adults give high school nearly half felt their counselors saw guidance counselors fair or poor ratings them as a face in the crowd for their college advice

How would you rate your high school guidance Which of these comes closer to counselors in the following areas? Would you say describing your own experiences with they were excellent, good, fair or poor? the counselors in your high school? 1% Helping you decide what school was right for you 2%

35% 32% 67%

Helping you find ways to pay for college, like financial aid or scholarship programs

33% 26% 59% 47% 48%

Helping you think about different kinds of careers you might want to pursue 29% 33% 62%

Explaining and helping you with the application process 29% 25% 54%

48% I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd

0 20 40 60 80 100% 47% The counselors usually made an effort to really  Poor  Fair get to know me and to treat me as an individual

Base: asked of young adults aged 22–30 2% I never had any experiences who had some postsecondary education. with counselors in high school

1% Don’t know

Base: asked of young adults aged 22–30 who had some postsecondary education.

6 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? weave their way through the college application process. Finding Two: Students who get perfunctory Nearly half (48 percent) say they usually felt like “just counseling are more likely to delay college another face in the crowd” in dealing with their guidance and make more questionable higher counselor; 47 percent say that their counselors tried to education choices get to know them and work with them personally. Most parents today want their children to go to college, but students from college-educated families start with In focus groups conducted as part of the project, young some undeniable educational advantages, among them people often characterized their meetings with counselors that their parents typically have experience planning for as dispiriting and unhelpful, especially if the student college. Well-educated, affluent families often invest happened to be one who didn’t stand out as “college considerable energy in helping their children look at material.” One young New Yorker suspected that his different colleges and universities and accumulating the guidance counselors prioritized their time based on which needed financial resources. For some, college planning is students seemed most likely to go to college: “[My a major parental enterprise that can begin from the guidance counselors] didn’t care [about me]. You could see moment a child is born. And it pays off: In our survey, other kids getting called in and being [asked], ‘What are students whose parents had a four-year degree were much you going to do [after high school]?’ Those kids would more likely to themselves be successful in a four-year come [for college day] with suits and ties and their parents college or university. would come with them. Then there was everybody else.” But nationwide, nearly 6 in 10 public school students are Another young woman told this story: “We had to take a from families where neither parent has completed college.11 test [that] asked [about] all these scenarios and how you Analysis from this survey shows that among other things, would react or what your preference was on a certain parental income and education level are strongly correlated topic. It was terrible because it told me I should be a bus with student success in completing a college degree. driver. They looked at that when you sat with your Among students who complete a two- or four-year degree guidance counselor.” Another student, also from New or certificate, about half say that when they were living at York, shared his experience with his high school guidance home, their family had money left over at the end of the counselors: “[It was] a mandatory meeting. … [T]hey’d month, and nearly 7 in 10 say their parents had at least look at your grades and then say, ‘Oh, you can get into some college education. Among those who fail to finish these schools.’ ” college, 56 percent come from families that just barely made ends meet or had trouble getting by; 4 in 10 (41 percent) have parents whose highest degree is a high school diploma or less.

11 Herrold, K., and O’Donnell, K. Parent and Family Involvement in Education, 2006–07 School Year, From the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2007 (NCES 2008-050). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC, 2008.

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 7 Young adults who fail to complete Nearly 1 in 5 young adults who college are more likely to come believe they were badly counseled from families with lower incomes delay going to college and levels of education Percent of students who waited a year or more after high school before enrolling in college: Percent who say that:

Their parents generally did not have money left over after paying monthly expenses or had trouble 13% getting by

56% 18%

46% 0 20 40 60 80 100%

 The counselors usually made an effort to really Their parents’ highest degree get to know me and to treat me as an individual is a high school diploma or less  I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd

41% Base: Asked of young adults aged 22–30 who had some postsecondary education. 30%

0 20 40 60 80 100%

 Students who failed to complete college

 Students who completed a degree

Base: Asked of young adults aged 22–30 who had some postsecondary education.

8 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? REASON NO. 2: I Have to Pay My Own Way

A Need for Practical Advice So what happens to students who don’t have constructive and helpful counseling experiences? As part of the research For young people from less well-educated, lower-income analysis, we compared the responses of young people who families, the ability to know and talk to adults who are said that their counselors seemed to see them as just familiar with the higher education system can be another face in the crowd with the responses of young essential. Public Agenda research has shown repeatedly people who said that their counselors really made an effort that the vast majority of lower-income and less well- to get to know them and help them. educated parents have high educational aspirations for their children.12 Even so, these families may not have The results are sobering, and some suggest that a lack of enough in-depth practical knowledge about how the good counseling may have a long-lasting effect on system works to give their children the best advice.13 In students’ lives and prospects. Students who are poorly such cases, access to an attentive and knowledgeable counseled are less likely to go directly from high school guidance counselor can be decisive. into a college program—a step that research shows is highly correlated with dropping out of college.14

12 Though parents of all backgrounds are evenly split as to whether a college education is necessary, or whether it’s possible to be successful without a college degree, large majorities say that it is likely that their own child will attend college. Public Agenda. “Squeeze Play: How Parents and The Public Look at Higher Education Today, New York: Author, 2007. 13 a mong all parents, African-Americans and Hispanics of all income levels are more likely than white parents to believe that qualified students— especially members of minority groups—will be unable to get a college education. This anxiety persists even among those minority parents who are financially well-off. Public Agenda, “Squeeze Play: How Parents and The Public Look at Higher Education Today,” New York: Author, 2007. 14 See, for instance: Ahlburg, D., Mccall, B. & Na, I., “Time to Dropout From College: A Hazard Model with Endogenous Waiting,” Industrial Relations Center, University of Minnesota, 2002.

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 9 Young adults who believe they were Young adults who believe they were badly counseled were less likely to badly counseled were less likely to receive financial aid and more likely to choose a college based on academic be disappointed in their college choice reputation or financial aid offers

Percent of students who say: Percent who say the following is a major reason they selected their school:

They had a scholarship or financial aid to help pay for school The tuition and fees were affordable 51% 55%

41% 62%

They would have enrolled in a different school if money were not an issue I thought going to this school would help me get a good job soon after I graduated 35% 64%

46% 48%

0 20 40 60 80 100% The overall academic reputation of the school  The counselors usually made an effort to really get to know me and to treat me as an individual 51%

 I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd 41%

Base: Asked of young adults aged 22–30 who had some postsecondary education. The school offered me a scholarship or financial aid 44%

32%

0 20 40 60 80 100%

The counselors usually made an effort to really get to know me and to treat me as an individual

I usually felt like I was just another face in the crowd

Base: Asked of young adults aged 22–30 who had some postsecondary education.

10 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? There is also evidence of a pronounced negative financial Even young adults who say their effect. Students who believe that they have been poorly counselors took an interest in them counseled are more likely to say they would have give their counselors mixed ratings attended a different school if money were not an issue, by a 46 percent to 35 percent margin. They are also less likely to say that they received a scholarship or financial How would you rate your high school aid for college; only about 4 in 10 got this kind of help counselors when it comes to helping you compared with more than half of those who believe that decide what school was right for you? they received better counseling.

Those who say their counselors usually Finally, students who come from families with less made an effort to really get to know them education are more likely to rate their guidance as “fair”  Poor  Fair or “poor” when it came to helping them decide which 15% 30% 45% college was right for them.

Better Advice Would Be Welcome When the survey asked young people to rate a dozen Those who say they usually felt like different ideas that might help them to successfully complete just another face in the crowd college and other postsecondary programs, 72 percent said  Poor  Fair that “the opportunity to talk with advisers who know all 54% 35% 89% about the different college and job-training programs so you can make a good choice” would help “a lot.” Those numbers rise to 91 percent among young African-Americans and 82 percent among young Hispanics. Young people identify a 0 20 40 60 80 100% number of reforms and proposals that could help them (see Base: Asked of young adults aged 22–30 “With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them” for entire list: who had some postsecondary education. http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem?qt_ active=1), but it is noteworthy that improved advice and counseling in high schools ranks at least as high as ideas like having better access to student loans, providing day care for college students and improving teaching at the college level “so that the classes are more interesting and relevant.”

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 11 Finding Three: High school counselors are viewed as less helpful than teachers Young adults got good support from their high school teachers and coaches The dismal ratings young people give their high school counselors would be disturbing under any circumstances, Percent of young adults who say that: but the fact that young people typically give their teachers and mentors better ratings in this area is notable. It suggests that, at least as the young people themselves see it, a malfunctioning counseling system is a particu- They had a teacher or coach in high school who really inspired them and motivated them to do their best* larly conspicuous gap.

75% Based on what high school students and young adults report in this and other research conducted by Public Agenda, educators overall are playing a remarkably positive role in motivating young people to go on to college and They had a teacher who really took an interest in them personally and encouraged them to go to college* continue learning. Solid majorities of young adults from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds report that they had 67% a “teacher who really took an interest in them personally and encouraged them to go to college.”15 Most say that they had a teacher or coach who “really inspired them and motivated them to do their best.” One young man from 0 20 40 60 80 100% St. Louis interviewed for this project specifically men- tioned that his teachers were more helpful than his * Source: “Life After High School,” guidance counselors, who “really don’t care about you.” He Public Agenda, 2005. turned instead to his advanced biology teacher because “some teachers, they care. … You can just tell.” Base: Asked of young adults aged 18–25.

Not only have educators done a good job of encouraging young people to adopt college as a goal, but they, along with parents and others, have also convinced most students that knowledge and know-how are valuable assets in today’s world. Most young people say their parents actively encouraged them to attend college.16 More than 8 in 10 of those surveyed here say that even if they knew there were lots of good jobs for people without degrees, they would “still make the decision to go to school because what you learn there is so important.”17

15 Public Agenda. “Life After High School: Young People Talk about Their Prospects,” New York: Author, 2005. 16 Ibid. 17 Public Agenda. “With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them,” New York: Author, 2009.

12 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? Finding Four: Advisers at higher education Colleges and universities also perform reasonably well. institutions get better ratings, but there’s Eighty percent of the young adults give their schools room for improvement “good” or “excellent” ratings for offering interesting The young people surveyed here give somewhat more courses, and 75 percent give the schools “good” or positive reviews to the advisers and counselors they “excellent” ratings for their remedial programs. One result encounter at the postsecondary level. Six in 10 give their that should prompt some further research is that young college advisers “good” or “excellent” ratings for helping people who do not believe they were well counseled in them decide what classes to take. The numbers are high school are considerably less likely to give their college somewhat less positive for helping them understand how good reviews on remedial courses. Whereas 59 percent of to get loans and scholarships; roughly half of the respon- the well-counseled students rated their college-level dents give their counselors “good” or “excellent” ratings in remedial programs as “excellent,” just 1 in 5 of the poorly this area, while 4 in 10 rate them “fair” or “poor.” counseled students say the same. It is not clear from this study whether these poor reviews stem from a mismatch between the student and the school—something that might be mitigated by better counseling—or whether these students have more severe academic shortfalls, something that counselors have limited powers to address.

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 13 Why Tackle This Problem Now But sugarcoating the reality that emerges here, or trying to hide it, does not serve the counseling field in the long President Barack Obama is one of many leaders in run. Our hope is that this research, based on what young government, business, education and the nonprofit sector people themselves say about their high school experi- who has stressed the need for the United States to ences, will open up a broad, forthright reexamination of increase the number of Americans with college degrees the high school guidance counseling system. We hope it and certificates and has urged a concerted effort to help will spur changes that will make the counselor’s role more students who start college successfully complete their effective and more professionally fulfilling. degrees. This mission is especially urgent at the nation’s community colleges, where only 1 out of 5 students has earned a degree three years after starting classes. Is It Time for A Little Help from Some Friends? If the United States is to meet its higher education goals We also hope the findings here will generate innovative and reduce its unacceptably high college dropout rates, we thinking about ways other institutions and other need to look candidly at the various factors contributing to entities could lend a hand. Perhaps higher education, the problem. Clearly, academic preparation in high school business and local civic and community groups could is a factor, as are the financial issues that arise when college provide trained volunteers who could help high school tuition costs outpace the growth in family incomes. Since graduates better understand the higher education 2000, tuition prices have gone up even as family incomes choices open to them. Maybe it’s time for a higher have stagnated or declined. Indeed, according to an education “eHarmony.com”—some type of online analysis by the National Center for Public Policy and resource that introduces students to the best potential Higher Education, “the financial burden of paying for college matches for them, given their distinct skills and college costs has increased substantially, particularly for aspirations. Maybe social networking that brings low- and middle-income families, even when scholarships aspiring high school students together with students and 18 and grants are taken into account.” professors could play a useful role.

The News May Be Hard to Hear In the end, however, it seems obvious to us that young people who are completing high school and aspiring to But based on the responses here, the high school go to college deserve better advice. At the very least, they guidance system is another factor that educators and deserve the opportunity to talk seriously with adults— policymakers need to look at. When it comes to counselors, teachers, family members and others—who facilitating students’ transition from high school to take a strong personal interest in their futures and have college or work, the current system is seriously under- the time and skill to guide them through this period of serving those it is intended to help. For the profession decision and change. itself, the intense criticism young adults have for their guidance counselors may be hard to absorb, especially given the absurdly high student–counselor ratios in many public schools and the nerve-racking juggling act that counselors often have to perform.

18 The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. “Measuring Up 2008: The National Report Card on Higher Education.” Retrieved from: http://measuringup2008.highereducation.org/print/NCPPHEMUNationalRpt.pdf, 2008.

14 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 15 About the study

“Can I Get a Little Advice Here?”, the second in a series of reports based on a survey of a nationally representative sample of 614 22-to-30-year-olds with at least some postsecondary education. Interviews were conducted from May 7 to June 24, 2009, using both landline and cellular telephones, and respondents had the choice of completing the interview in English or Spanish. The margin of error for the report is plus or minus 4.8 percentage points. However, it is higher when comparing subgroups or question items that weren’t asked of all respondents. The survey was preceded by five focus groups conducted in sites across the country.

For more information about the study’s methodology, visit http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem/methodology.

For other reports in the series, visit http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem?qt_active=1.

16 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? produce slightdiscrepanciesbetweennumbersinthesesurveyresultsandthereport. R R [Note: There isnoQ1-7.] S1. O Q8. What areyou studying now, orwhatdidyou study previously? esponses may notalways 100 total percentowingCombininganswer torounding. categoriesmay esults oflessthan0.5percentaresignifiedby anasterisk.R Don’t know/Refused Dissatisfied Satisfied Don’t know Other Skilled trades Agriculture Social work Law Economics/Finance Counseling Communication Environmental studies Culinary arts Cosmetology Religious studies (anthropology, geography, history, politicalscienceandsociology) Social sciences Engineering Criminal justice/Criminology Psychology Science General studies Computer science/Information technology Health care Nursing Art/Fine arts/Performing arts Liberal arts Education/Early childhoodeducation/Childcare Business administration/Accounting/Marketing verall, areyou satisfiedordissatisfiedwiththeway thingsaregoingfor you andyour family today? esults ofzero aresignifiedby adash. FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 18% 19% 80% 3% 8% 0% 1% 2% 2% 3% 0% 4% 1% 1% 1% 1% 3% 3% 2% 3% 4% 4% 5% 7% 6% 5% 5% 8%

* Total 17 18 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? Please tellmeifyou agreeor disagreewitheach statement. Q10. Iamgoingtoreadyou thatdescribewhatsomepeoplesay alistofstatements aboutgoingtocollege. Q9. Being asrealisticyou can,which doyou thinkismorelikely tohappeninthenext 10 years? Q12. Please tellmewhich comesclosertoyour own view, even ifneitherisexactly right. [Note: There isnoQ11.] I know many peoplewhomake agoodlivingwhodonothave acollegedegree College isnotfor everyone—some peoplejustdon’tlikeschool In thelongrun, you willmake moremoney ifyou have acollegedegree Don’t know Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree Don’t know Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree Don’t know I amnotsure ifIwillbeclosertoasuccessfulcareer I willbeontracktoward asuccessfulcareer Don’t know Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree Don’t know getting ajob, sohavingacollegedegree doesn’t really helpthatmuch Because ishavingahard oftheeconomicclimate,everyone time In thiseconomicclimate,itisreally essentialtohave acollegedegree n=614 % 39% 50% 22% 64% 10% 88% 14% 37% 41% 45% 54% 5% 6% 2% 4% 8% 2% 1% 7% 1%

* Total after highschool. Pleasetellmehow closeeach comestodescribing you. Q18. thatmay Herearesomestatements ormay notdescribeyour own reasonsfor continuingyour education Q17. Which ofthefollowing appliestoyou? For my careergoals… college, isitsomethingthey lookdown at,orisitjustsomethingroutineandexpected? Q16. Inyour circleoffriends,doyou thinkmostpeoplearereallyimpressedby someonewhograduatesfrom to doso,oryou thinktherearemany peoplewhoarequalifiedtogobutdon’t have theopportunity todo so? Q15. Doyou thinkthatcurrently, thevastofpeoplewhoarequalifiedtogocollegehave majority theopportunity [Note: There isnoQ14.] Q13. Pleasetellmewhich comesclosertoyour own view, even ifneitherisexactly right. I went therebecauseIreallyenjoy beinginschool Don’t know Just somethingroutine andexpected Something theylookdown at Most peopleare really impressed Don’t know Do togo nothave theopportunity Have togo theopportunity Don’t know I wouldstillmakethedecisiontogoschoolbecausewhatyou learnthere issoimportant degree, Iprobably wouldnothave gonetoschoolafterhigh If there were plentyofgoodjobsavailable withoutanadvanced Don’t know Not closeatall Not tooclose Somewhat close Very close Don’t know I don’t even needmydegree I needanotherdegree besidestheoneIhave My degree isallIneed FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 62% 33% 62% 34% 86% 14% 21% 11% 36% 32% 61% 29% 2% 3% 3% 1% 1% 9% — Total 19 20 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? I went therebecausethecareerIwant specificallyrequiresit I went therebecauseIreallydidn’t know whatIwanted to doafter highschool I went therebecausemy parentsalways ofhighereducation instilledin me theimportance I went therebecausemostofmy friendswere going I wanted tolearnmoreabouttheworld, andcollegeistheplacetodoit Don’t know Not closeatall Not tooclose Somewhat close Very close Don’t know Not closeatall Not tooclose Somewhat close Very close Don’t know Not closeatall Not tooclose Somewhat close Very close Don’t know Not closeatall Not tooclose Somewhat close Very close Don’t know Not closeatall Not tooclose Somewhat close Very close n=614 % 18% 10% 22% 50% 41% 14% 23% 22% 14% 26% 51% 60% 17% 13% 21% 13% 35% 31% 9% 9% — * * * * Total Q20. Was thisapublicorprivate school? school was that? Was ita…?[Base: Q19. Ifyou attended morethanoneschool, pleasethinkaboutthefirstoneyou attended. Q22. Which comesclosertoyour view: [Base: [Note: There isnoQ21.] went toafter highschool, pleasetellmeifeach ofthefollowing isareasonwhy you selectedthisschool. Q24. [Note: There isnoQ23.] R T It was conveniently locatedtowhereIlived orworked he overall oftheschool academicreputation ecommendations fromfriendsorfamily members Don’t know Private Public Don’t know Four-year college(Bachelor orSciencedegree) ofArts Two year orcommunitycollege(associate’s degree) Trade orvocational schoolorprogram Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know I wouldnothave beenready forit Waiting before classes wastherightchoice starting classes immediatelyafterhighschool It wouldhave beeneasierformeoverall to have started Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason T here aremany reasonsyou mighthave picked theschool you picked. Stillthinkingaboutthefirstschool you Those whoattended morethanonetypeofschoolafterhighschool.] Those whowaited ayearormoretobeginschool.] FULL SURVEY RESULTS T o start, whicho start, of type Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 20% 79% 38% 53% 42% 32% 26% 27% 27% 46% 49% 50% 27% 20% 53% 1% 9% 1% — * * * Total 21 22 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? It hadaclassschedule that worked withmy schedule I couldspecialize ormajorintheexact subjectIwas interestedin T T I was surethatIwouldn’t have any problemsgetting admitted I wanted tolive away fromhome he tuition andfees were affordable he school offered meascholarship orfinancialaid Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason n=614 % 33% 23% 44% 23% 22% 54% 19% 23% 57% 44% 18% 38% 29% 30% 41% 54% 27% 19% — — — —

* * Total [Recorded verbatimresponse] Q23R. Inyour own words, whatwould you say isthemain reasonyou chose thisschool? Q25. Stillthinkingaboutthatfirstyear inschool, pleasetellmeifthisdescribesyou alot,little ornotatall. I thoughtgoingtothisschool would helpmegetagoodjobsoonafter Igraduated T I was by overwhelmed theamountofstudying Ihadtodo he school hadasportsprogramorothernon-academicthatwastome important Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not atall A little A lot program/toGood play asport sports As astepping-stonetofour-year/another college Other Where Iwasaccepted/onlyoption Have ascholarship/“free ride” To bettermyself/myjobopportunities Family members/friendsattend(ed)/familyconnection/parents’ choice Affordable Location Liked it/feltrightforme/atmosphere Good/quality education/teachers/reputation Offered themajor/program Iwant Convenient/close tohome/work FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 20% 25% 56% 68% 17% 15% 52% 34% 14% 10% 10% 14% 25% 2% 2% 3% 4% 4% 5% 5% 8% 9% — —

* Total 23 24 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? I hadtowork aswell,todoboth anditwas toostressfultrying I found ithardtolive away fromhome I hadahardtimewritingcollegepapers I was notusedtohaving somuch freedom I found ithardtopay attention inclass I spenttoomuch timesocializing andnotenoughtimestudying Don’t know Not atall A little A lot Don’t know Not atall A little A lot Don’t know Not atall A little A lot Don’t know Not atall A little A lot Don’t know Not atall A little A lot Don’t know Not atall A little A lot n=614 % 43% 28% 29% 79% 15% 64% 24% 11% 57% 28% 15% 61% 27% 12% 52% 30% 18% 6% — — — — * * Total Q26. Stillthinkingaboutyour firstyear inschool, didyou takeany remedialcoursesornot? Q27. T T T T he costoftextbooks andotherfees besidestuition affected mefinancially he financialaidadvisersinhelpingyouhow understand togetloansandscholarships he school inoffering coursesthatwere interestingtoyou he advisersinhelpingyou decidewhatclassestotake Don’t know Didn’t gotocollege/wasinavocational/technical schoolorprogram (VOL) No Yes Don’t know Not atall A little A lot Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent T hinking overall aboutthefirstschool you went toafter highschool, how would you rateeach ofthefollowing: FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 83% 16% 41% 31% 28% 15% 25% 31% 19% 18% 45% 35% 13% 26% 34% 25% 1% 7% 2% 1% — * * Total 25 26 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? Q31. Didyou have any ofthefollowing tohelppay for school after highschool? [Note: There isnoQ29orQ30.] in adifferent school? Q28. Ifmoney was notanissue,would you have enrolled inthesameschool you did,orwould you have enrolled other costsofschool butnotfor tuition? [Base: Q32. Didyour parentsorotherrelatives pay for allofyour tuition, some ofit,onlyalittle, ordidthey pay for some L A scholarship orfinancialaid T Parents orotherrelatives oans ofsomesort he remedialclassesinpreparingyou for future collegework [Base:Thosewhohavetakenanyremedialcourses.] Don’t know No Yes Don’t know Different school Same school Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent Don’t know No Yes Don’t know Some othercostsofschoolbutnotfortuition Only alittle Some tuition All Don’t know No Yes Those whoseparentsorotherrelativeshelpedpayforschool.] n=614 % 54% 45% 41% 57% 17% 35% 40% 55% 45% 15% 14% 35% 35% 45% 55% 2% 8% 1% — — —

* Total have, ordoyou thinkyou couldhave paidalotmore attention andworked harder? Q34. for school, responsibleforpayingback whohavecompletedtheirprogramandarepersonally loans.] Q33. [Base: Q32B. in school, most ofthemstudied hardoronlyafew ofyour friendsstudied hard inschool? Q38. How would you describeyour friendsinhighschool? Would you say thatnearlyallofthemstudied hard Q37. Which doyou ofthesetwostatements thinkismost accurate aboutyour experience? [Note: There isnoQ36.] Q35. When you were inhighschool, didyou always know you were goingtocontinueonhighereducation? Don’t know Could have paidalotmore attentionandworked harder Worked hard tolearn Don’t know They willnever bepaidoff (VOL) They are already paidoff You thinktheywillbepaidoffinthenextfew years You have alongwaytogobefore your loansare paidoff Both/neither (VOL) My parents are payingthemoff I ampayingofftheloans Don’t know None studiedhard (VOL) Only ofthemstudiedhard afew Most ofthemstudiedhard Nearly allofthemstudiedhard Don’t know My teachersandcounselorsprobably thoughtIwasnotgoingtocollegeafterhighschool school My teachersandcounselorsinhighschoolprobably thoughtIwouldgotocollegerightafterhigh Don’t know No Yes, wasgoingtocontinueonhighereducation Ialwaysknew T T hinking over your highschool years, would you say thatyou worked hardtolearnasmuch asyou should hinking aboutany loansyou tookoutfor school, would you say… [Base:Thosewhohadloanstohelppay Are you responsiblefor paying off your loans,orareyour parentstheoneswhowillpay themoff? Those whohadloanstohelppayforschool.] FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 64% 34% 20% 45% 33% 86% 37% 46% 16% 21% 78% 23% 77% 1% 1% 6% 7% 1% 1% 1% * * Total 27 28 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? Q39. For each descriptionthatIread,pleasetellmeifyou thinkitappliedtoyou inhighschool ornot. Someone whodidnotlike sitting inclass A bitofadaydreamer Someone wholiked tohave agoodtime A goodathlete A bitofateacher’s pet goodstudentA very Don’t know Did notapplytome Somewhat appliedtome Definitely appliedtome Don’t know Did notapplytome Somewhat appliedtome Definitely appliedtome Don’t know Did notapplytome Somewhat appliedtome Definitely appliedtome Don’t know Did notapplytome Somewhat appliedtome Definitely appliedtome Don’t know Did notapplytome Somewhat appliedtome Definitely appliedtome Don’t know Did notapplytome Somewhat appliedtome Definitely appliedtome n=614 % 37% 33% 30% 56% 31% 12% 10% 44% 46% 45% 32% 23% 40% 38% 22% 10% 42% 48% 1% — — — —

* Total [Base: Q41. How would you rateyour highschool counselorsinthefollowing areas? Q40. Which ofthesecomesclosertodescribingyour own experiences withthecounselors inyour highschool? Explaining andhelpingyou withtheapplicationprocess Helping you decidewhatschool was rightfor you Helping you thinkaboutdifferent kindsofcareersyou mightwant topursue A bitofatroublemaker Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent Don’t know I never hadanyexperienceswithcounselorsinhighschool(VOL) I usuallyfeltwasjustanotherfaceinthecrowd to treat measanindividual toThe counselorsusuallymadeaneffort really gettoknow me and Don’t know Did notapplytome Somewhat appliedtome Definitely appliedtome Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent Those whohadexperienceswithcounselors.] FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 29% 33% 22% 14% 48% 47% 71% 18% 11% 29% 25% 25% 18% 35% 32% 17% 13% 2% 1% 2% 2% 2% — Total 29 30 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? school teachers, moreto teachers you hadafter highschool orwhetherthey were aboutthesame. as theteachers you hadafter highschool. For each ofthefollowing, pleasetellmeifitappliesmoretoyour high Q42. Nowthatmay Iamgoingtoreadsomestatements ormay notdescribeyour highschool teachers aswell T T I felt Icouldgotothemifhadapersonalproblemthatwas affecting my schoolwork tothem easilywhenIhadaquestionaboutwhatwasI couldtalk beingtaught Helping you findways topay for college,like financialaidorscholarship programs hey why helpedmeunderstand whatwe were learninginclasswas relevant tome hey reallyhadaskillinmakingthesubjectmatter comealive Don’t know About thesame Teachers you hadafterhighschool High schoolteachers Don’t know About thesame Teachers you have hadafterhighschool High schoolteachers Don’t know Poor Fair Good Excellent Don’t know About thesame Teachers you hadafter highschool High schoolteachers Don’t know About thesame Teachers you hadafterhighschool High schoolteachers n=614 % 40% 20% 34% 53% 20% 26% 33% 26% 22% 15% 41% 42% 16% 43% 37% 18% 3% 1% 4% 1% 1% Total did notcompleteyour program. [Base: Q43. Some oftheclasseswere toodifficult I hadtotaketoomany classesthatIdidnotthink were useful All thingsconsidered,itjustdidn’t seemtobeworth themoney Iwas paying I neededabreakfromschool I thoughtmany oftheclasseswere boring I justcouldn’tafford thetuitionandfees Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason T hinking aboutthelastschool you attended, for each ofthefollowing, pleasetellmeifitisareasonwhy you Those whodidnotcompleteapostsecondaryprogram.] FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 44% 33% 21% 52% 31% 14% 46% 21% 31% 63% 24% 10% 55% 27% 16% 62% 21% 14% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% Total 31 32 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? [Base: soon orarenotgoingtolookintoaparticularschool orprogramanytime soon? Q46. Would you say you have seriouslylooked intoaspecificschool, have notyet looked butplanon doingso at all?[Base: Q45. How much thoughthave you given togoingback toschool—a lotofthought,somethoughtorno [Note: There isnoQ44.] I didn’t have enoughtimefor my family I neededtogowork andmake money I didn’t like sitting inclass Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Already chosen/acceptedintoaschool (VOL) Not schoolorprogram anytimesoon goingtolookintoaparticular Have notyet lookedbutplanondoingsosoon Seriously lookedatsomespecificschools Don’t know No thoughtatall Some thought A lotofthought Those whohavethoughtaboutgoingback toschool.] Those whodidnotcompleteapostsecondaryprogram.] n=614 % 57% 25% 16% 28% 17% 54% 60% 27% 11% 23% 37% 38% 24% 65% 3% 2% 2% 1% 1% 2% 9% Total [Base: Q48. For each ofthefollowing, isthisareasonwhy itwould stillbehardfor you togoback toschool? [Base: it behardfor you togoback toschool orwould itbepretty easytodoifthat’s whatyou reallywanted? Q47. Supposethatyou didn’t have topay tuition becauseyou gotagrantthatcovered thetuition andbooks. Would No school nearmehasclassesthatfitmy schedule I don’t thinkany college would acceptme I reallyneedtowork full-time,andIdon’t thinkIcouldwork andgotoschool atthesametime I have family commitments I stillwould notbeabletoafford college Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Pretty easytodo Hard togoback Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Those whosayitwouldbehardgoback toschool.] Those whodidnotcompleteapostsecondaryprogram.] FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 26% 19% 56% 43% 29% 26% 57% 36% 48% 31% 17% 75% 15% 23% 19% 56% 2% 2% 5% 3% 2% 7% 2% Total 33 34 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? circumstances aresimilartoyourscircumstances after highschool ingetting acollegedegree. Q53. For each ofthefollowing, pleasetellmehow much you thinkthiswould helpsomeonewhose [Base: or there’s roomtomove upbutonlyifyou getmoreeducation,orthere’s notmuch roomtomove up? Q52. Would you say thatinyour current jobsituation there’s ofroomfor plenty you togrow andmove up, [Note: There isnoQ51.] are current employees.] been hopingtodofor quitesometime?[Base: Q50. Would you say thatyou endedupchoosing your current jobmoreby chance, orwas itsomethingyou had [Note: There isnoQ49.] make agoodchoice T Have thegovernment offer morecollegeloans No school nearmeseemstohave aprogramthatIamreallyinterestedin he opportunity to talk withadviserswhoknowhe opportunity totalk allaboutthedifferent collegeandjob-trainingprogramssoyou can There’s notmuch room tomove up There’s room tomove upbutonlyif you getmore education There’s plentyof room for you togrow andmove up Don’t know Hoping todoforquitesometime Chose current jobmore by chance Don’t know Not areason atall Minor reason Major reason Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Those whodidnotcompleteapostsecondaryprogramarecurrently employed.] Those whodidnotcompleteapostsecondaryprogramand n=614 % 28% 23% 50% 37% 61% 67% 18% 14% 23% 72% 22% 71% 1% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 3% 3% Total Provide healthinsurancetoallstudents, even classesparttime thosetaking Put moreclassesonline Make thecollegeapplicationprocesseasier Allow part-timestudents toqualifyfor financialaid Cut thecostofattending collegeby 25percent Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 11% 34% 46% 19% 76% 13% 82% 25% 61% 29% 53% 1% 8% 1% 3% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 7% 5% 2% 8% 8% Total 35 36 FULL SURVEY RESULTS |Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? Have moreprogramsfor students apprenticeshipsandnonclassroomwork whoareinterestedinhands-onlearning, Improve teaching sotheclassesaremoreinterestingandrelevant Offer morecoursesintheevenings, onweekends orinthesummersopeoplecanwork whileattending school Make surestudents learngoodstudy habitsinhighschool sothey’re preparedfor collegework Provide day carefor students whoneedit Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot Don’t know Not atall Not much A little A lot n=614 % 21% 74% 18% 77% 23% 66% 23% 71% 24% 67% 1% 2% 2% 1% 3% 1% 2% 6% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 4% 4% Total think would help Q54. All inall,would you say itis…[Base: D10. Howisittoyou important thatyour children, orchildren inyour care,gotocollege? Don’t know and nonclassroom work Have more programs forstudentswhoare interested inhands-onlearning,apprenticeships Improve teachingsothe classes are more interesting andrelevant so peoplecanwork whileattendingschool Offer more coursesintheevenings, on weekends orinthesummer Make sure studentslearngoodstudyhabitsinhighschoolsothey’re prepared forcollegework Provide daycare forstudentsthatneedit classes part-time Provide healthinsurancetoallstudents,even thosetaking Put more classesonline Make thecollegeapplicationprocess easier Allow studentstoqualifyforfinancialaid part-time Cut thecostofattendingcollege by 25percent and job-trainingprograms soyou canmakeagoodchoice totalkwithadviserswhoknowThe opportunity allaboutthedifferent college More government loansforcollege Don’t know Not atallimportant Not tooimportant Somewhat important Very important And outofthedifferent optionsyou say would have helpedsomeonelike you ‘alot,’ which oneoptiondoyou THE MOS T? [Base: Those whosaidmorethanoneoptioninQ53wouldhelp“alot”.] Those whohavechildreninthehousehold.] FULL SURVEY RESULTS Can IGet aLittle Advice Here? | n=614 % 35% 16% 82% 1% 5% 4% 7% 9% 6% 4% 4% 6% 8% 9% 1% 1% * * Total 37 Characteristics of the Sample

Total % Gender Male 47% Female 53% Highest Education Some college Dropout 29% Technical/vocational school in progress 2% Two-year community college in progress 6% Four-year undergraduate in progress 5% Technical/vocational school 6% Two-year or community college 7% Four-year undergraduate college or university 29% Graduate school in progress 8% Graduate school 9% Education participation (not necessarily completion) Trade or vocational school 25% Two-year or community college 59% Four-year college or university 66% Formal apprenticeship 19% Military 7% Time before matriculation to postsecondary education Within six months 54% Within one year 11% Within one to two years 8% Within two to four years 17% Later 9% Current student enrollment type Full-time student 49% Part-time student 31% Just taking a class here and there 19% Employment status Full-time 61% Part-time 16% Retired 1% Not employed 19% (VOL) Homemaker 1% (VOL) Student 2% (VOL) Disabled 1%

38 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? Characteristics of the Sample

Total % Marital status Married 36% Living as married 4% Divorced 2% Separated 2% Widowed * Never married/Single 55% Number of children in household Zero 60% One 21% Two 12% Three or more 7% Current living arrangement At home with my parents 14% Dorm or other college housing 1% Share a place with roommates 14% Own place 60% Other 11% Total household income in 2008 Under $15,000 12% $15,000 to under $25,000 12% $25,000 to under $35,000 15% $35,000 to under $50,000 19% $50,000 to under $75,000 16% $75,000 or more 21% Household size in high school [Base: Those who do not currently live with their parents.] One–two 5% Three 18% Four 34% Five 25% Six or more 17% High school home [Base: Those who do not currently live with their parents.] Single-family house 86% Other kind of dwelling 14% Town house 2% Duplex or two-family home 2% Condominium 1% Apartment 5% Trailer or mobile home (VOL) 1% Other 4%

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 39 Characteristics of the Sample

Total % Family financial situation when living at home [Base: Those who do not currently live with their parents.] Generally had extra money each month 47% Made ends meet, but usually didn’t have money left over each month 41% Had trouble getting by each month 10% Don’t know/refused 2% Parents’ education A high school diploma or equivalent 28% A technical or vocational certificate 8% Two-year associates degree 9% Four-year bachelor’s degree 23% Graduate degree 22% Something else (SPECIFY) 1% None/Both parents have less than high school diploma (VOL) 6% Don’t know/Refused 3% Race/Ethnicity White 67% Black 11% Hispanic 12% Asian 6% Other 3% Don’t know/Refused 3% Urbanicity Metro 86% Nonmetro 14% Census Region Northeast 18% Midwest 24% South 35% West 23%

40 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? OUR THANKS

The authors of “Can I Get a Little Advice Here?” would like to thank the following people for their support and assistance during the preparation of this report:

Our partners at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington for providing us with the opportunity to conduct this research and the freedom to explore the issues without constraint or bias;

Arthur White, founder of Jobs for the Future, for his contributions to the conception of the project and his invaluable counsel and support;

Dan Yankelovich and Barbara Lee for their insights and guidance;

Scott Bittle for his direction and assistance;

Sanura Weathers for her help in producing this report and her commitment to excellent design;

Melissa Feldsher for bringing our work to the attention of a broad audience;

Francie Grace, David White, Peiting Chen and Allison Rizzolo, of PublicAgenda.org, for producing a distinctive and highly informative online version of this report;

And Public Agenda President Ruth A. Wooden for her vision, insight and guidance.

ABOUT THE Bill & Melinda GATES FOUNDATION

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and in life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Can I Get a Little Advice Here? | 41 About PUBLIC AGENDA

Founded in 1975 by social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Public Agenda works to help the nation’s leaders better understand the public’s point of view and to help average citizens better understand critical policy issues. Our in-depth research on how citizens think about policy has won praise for its credibility and fairness from elected officials from both political parties and from experts and decision makers across the political spectrum. Our citizen education materials and award-winning website, PublicAgenda.org, offer unbiased information about the challenges the country faces. Twice nominated for the prestigious Webby award for best political site, PublicAgenda.org provides comprehensive information on a wide range of policy issues.

OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daniel Yankelovich David Coleman Chairman and Co-Founder Founder, Student Achievement Partners, LLC

Lloyd Morrisett Philip Howard Chairman, Executive Committee Vice-Chairman, Covington & Burling, and Founder, Common Good

CO-FOUNDER Alice S. Huang Cyrus Vance (1917–2002) Senior Faculty Associate, Former Secretary of State California Institute of Technology

HONORARY MEMBERS Ann Kirschner University Dean, Macaulay Honors College Peter G. Peterson at the City University of New York Chairman, Peter G. Peterson Foundation Alan I. Leshner Sidney Harman Chief Executive Officer, American Association Former Chairman/CEO, for the Advancement of Science Harman International Industries, Inc. Bobby R. Inman David Mathews Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) President, Charles F. Kettering Foundation Judith Davidson Moyers President, Public Affairs Television, Inc.

Deborah Wadsworth Senior Adviser, Public Agenda

Mitchel Wallerstein Dean, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University

42 | Can I Get a Little Advice Here? Public Agenda 6 East 39th Street New York, NY 10016 t (212) 686.6610 f (212) 889.3461 www.PublicAgenda.org