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Aiming Low: Estimating the Scope and Predictors of Postsecondary Undermatch

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  • Andrew S. Belasco
  • Michael J. Trivette

Abstract

Postsecondary undermatch occurs when students fail to enroll at a college or university that possesses a level of selectivity their academic credentials would permit them to attend. Given the demonstrated link between selective college attendance and postsecondary and professional attainment, recent studies have attempted to examine which factors may prevent students from enrolling at appropriately competitive institutions. Using data provided by NCES's Educational Longitudinal survey (ELS:2002/2006), this study aims to quantitatively assess whether results yielded from these studies generalize to a national level, and whether other contextual variables play a significant role. Descriptive results show that postsecondary undermatch is indeed a pervasive phenomenon, but not as widespread as previous studies have claimed; while multilevel analysis suggests that background, environment, and college-related attitudes have significant influence on the likelihood of undermatch.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew S. Belasco & Michael J. Trivette, 2015. "Aiming Low: Estimating the Scope and Predictors of Postsecondary Undermatch," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 86(2), pages 233-263, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:uhejxx:v:86:y:2015:i:2:p:233-263
    DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2015.11777363
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    Cited by:

    1. Maragkou, Konstantina, 2020. "Socio-economic inequality and academic match among post-compulsory education participants," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Gregory C. Wolniak & Marjolein Muskens, 2021. "Undermatching and Noncognitive Development during the First Year of College: A Longitudinal Study of College Students in the Netherlands," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 62(6), pages 855-884, September.
    3. Oded Gurantz & Jessica Howell & Michael Hurwitz & Cassandra Larson & Matea Pender & Brooke White, 2021. "A National‐Level Informational Experiment to Promote Enrollment in Selective Colleges," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 453-479, March.
    4. Dan Fitzpatrick, 2020. "Challenges Mitigating a Darwinian Application of Social Capital: How Specific Advising Activities by High School Counselors Shift Measures of College Readiness But Not College-Going," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 61(5), pages 652-678, August.
    5. Daniel Klasik & Kristin Blagg & Zachary Pekor, 2018. "Out of the Education Desert: How Limited Local College Options are Associated with Inequity in Postsecondary Opportunities," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-26, September.

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