Increasing the college-going rate

Yesterday I had the opportunity to moderate a forum of school counselors on the issue of how to increase the the college-going rate for high school students, especially underserved students.  One of the things that came out was the influence of peers on the the college decision.  The counselors also pointed out that the discussion of college should begin in the 9th grade, not the 11th or 12th.

An article in the January 22, 2011 Wall Street Journal entitled “Why Rich Parents Don’t Matter” discusses some research that points out that “… the power of the home environment pales in comparison to the power of genes and peer groups.”  It’s an interesting article and one I recommend.