False hope: underprepared students’ pursuit of postsecondary degrees

What is it about?

This article is about the realities of students with poor reading and writing skills enrolling in postsecondary programs to attain an advanced degree. We examine current data that illustrate students’ college readiness and describe the postsecondary options available to students, along with the advantages and disadvantages of different types of institutions (e.g., 2-year, 4-year public, 4-year for-profit).

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Why is it important?

This article is important because 60% of students enrolling in institutions of higher learning need remedial work in mathematics, reading, and writing, or both. This lack of preparedness is a major factor in college students leaving school and not completing their degrees. The gap between students’ academic preparedness and the demands of college-level work is a major concern for students who invest time and money in educational programs that may not yield the perceived benefits touted in numerous television commercials, billboards, and online and newspaper advertisements.