What Limits College Success? A Review and Further Analysis of Holzer and Baum's 'Making College Work'

Philip Oreopoulos

No 150, IZA Policy Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Holzer and Baum's recent book, 'Making College Work: Pathways to Success for Disadvantaged Students,' provides an excellent up-to-date review of higher education. My review first summarizes its key themes: 1) who gains from college and why? 2) mismatch and the need for more structure; 3) problems with remediation; 4) financial barriers and 5) the promise of comprehensive support. I then critique the book's proposed solutions using some of my own qualitative and quantitative data. Some recommendations are worth considering, while others are too expensive or unlikely to make a meaningful difference without addressing the underlying lack of preparedness and motivation of college students. I argue that making mandatory some existing services, such as application assistance and advice, proactive tutoring and advising, and greater career transition support, has the most immediate potential.

Keywords: college student achievement; returns to college; higher education policy; signaling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I2 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 39 pages
Date: 2019-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-lma
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Journal Article: What Limits College Success? A Review and Further Analysis of Holzer and Baum's Making College Work (2021)
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