A study highlights the tensions and aspirations that shape the goals of black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Abstract | Full article HTML | Full article PDF Some teenagers take it for granted they’ll go on to college after graduating from high school. But for others—especially first-generation students from minoritized groups—the choice to pursue college can seem a daunting task. From learning […]
A study shows the positive impact of a close-knit, supportive learning community on student success. Abstract | Full article HTML | Full article PDF Are high school students more likely to succeed—both in school and in the workplace—if their studies are more closely linked to real-life careers? Although statistics have shown that students in career academies are less likely to dropout of high school […]
This op-ed, authored by Pullias Center research assistant Suneal Kolluri, was originally published in The Washington Post’s Answer Sheet on July 19, 2018. The Advanced Placement program is engaged in a tenuous balancing act. The program aims to serve more students from marginalized backgrounds whose schooling experiences have exposed them to few rigorous learning opportunities. At the same time, it seeks to […]
Ten years ago, Carlos Galan was a 17-year-old at Belmont High School, struggling to learn English after moving from El Salvador to the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. This fall, Galan will be a PhD candidate in higher education administration and policy at University of California, Riverside. Much of his education success, Galan says, is thanks to a mentor. […]
A study finds graduate admissions committees favor students linked to well-known schools and scholars. Abstract | Full article HTML | Full article PDF How can you get into a top graduate school program? Good grades and GRE scores help, but the prestige of your recommenders or undergraduate institution might end up being the ultimate clincher. So finds Julie Posselt, a Pullias Center researcher and assistant […]
A timely report about community college funding co-written by Pullias faculty member Tatiana Melguizo received coverage in Inside Higher Ed on June 15, 2018: California’s move toward performance funding for its community colleges could work without harming colleges that enroll large numbers of underserved student groups, according to a new report published Thursday by the Century Foundation, but only if the formula adequately takes into […]
Pullias faculty member Julie Posselt received yet another rave review for her book, Inside Graduate Admissions: Merit, Admissions, and Faculty Gatekeeping (Harvard University Press, 2016). Just published in the Spring 2018 issue of Contexts, a quarterly magazine of cutting-edge social research, the review by Northwestern University’s Lauren A. Rivera calls Inside Graduate Admissions “an enthralling read”: Inside Graduate Admissions is […]
A new paper takes a holistic view to illuminate why vulnerable, high-risk youth may find refuge in gangs. What is a gang member? The question sounds simple enough, yet comes with no easy answer. In fact, the difficulty of answering this question is one reason why our understanding of gangs and the youth who join them is still so limited, according […]
A new paper sheds light on how the educational initiative has affected urban high school students. Abstract | Full article HTML | Full article PDF The Common Core State Standards were developed with a lofty goal: “to ensure that all students have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life upon graduation from high school, regardless of where they live.” […]