Summer Counseling for College

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) recently reviewed research examining the impact of summer counseling on students' college enrollment and persistence. The results are summarized in an intervention report released by the Institute of Education Sciences today (March 27). Summer counseling is designed to help college-intending high school graduates complete the steps needed to enroll in college and start their college careers. These services, delivered during the months between high school graduation and college enrollment, involve outreach by college counselors or peer mentors via text messaging campaigns, e-mail, phone, in-person meetings, instant messaging, or social media. These intervention services provide college-intending individuals with information about tasks required for college enrollment, as well as assistance in overcoming unanticipated financial, informational, and socio-emotional barriers that prevent college entry. Based on the most recent available evidence, the WWC found that summer counseling had potentially positive effects on college persistence and mixed effects on college enrollment. For more details, read the full report.