A new research-based article from the Associated Press finds that students aren’t aiming high enough for college. The story mainly talks about how higher education researchers set out to answer this question: why do so many students who begin college end up not graduating?

Along with a researcher Matthew Chingos, William Bowen and Michael McPherson, both former college presidents, published the book “Crossing the Line,” about their findings. Apparently our biggest education weakness here in the U.S. is college completion. Less than six in 10 entering college students finish a bachelor’s degree, believe it or not. It’s one of the worst rates in the developed world, the article reported.

One of the most intriguing finds is that expensive colleges think all students try for the most selective of schools, the article reports. “Crossing the Line” actually focuses on this phenomenon called undermatching. Basically, undermatching is when lots of well-qualified high school seniors end up not going to the best schools, instead choosing two-year colleges or none at all.

The book also finds research from 1999 about North Carolina high schoolers who could have easily attended UNC Chapel Hill or North Carolina State---both very good schools.  Barely one-third ended up applying to the schools and the ones that did apply and got in went other places or nowhere at all.

Of course, the students could have their reasons, like staying close to home or not having enough money to go away to school. The book authors argue though that other factors could be why the students aren’t going to such schools (like lack of information, encouragement or planning) the article said.

Who you may ask, is most susceptible to this sort of thing? Low-income students and minorities are most at risk. The undermatched kids may have gone in as freshmen thinking oh, this will be a heck of a lot easier. Unfortunately, the article said that research in the book states that they did get higher grades, but overall took longer to graduate and eventually finished 15 points lower than students who went to more selective schools.

Our Take:

I think that something needs to be done with these undermatched students.  Whether it be special attention or some sort of mentoring program, these are great students that I feel are just falling through the cracks.  These are our potential leaders that someday may make a difference in the world. They deserve to know all their options and make responsible decisions about their education.