Abstract
The number of high school seniors applying and being accepted to institutions of higher education is increasing yearly. Approximately 19 million students are enrolled in more than 4,200 postsecondary degree-granting institutions compared with only 11 million in 1976 (Strayhorn, 2011, p. 142). Although the number of students who are college eligible is increasing, the number of obstacles those students face continues to increase. Many students, particularly first-generation and minority students, face several obstacles that often make higher education unattainable. Several tools must be utilized to assist underrepresented students in their pursuit of higher education. It is the responsibility of the secondary school to provide its students with the proper resources to facilitate access to higher education. Given these challenges, the focus of this study was to examine the impact of Senior Seminar at a Bay Area public charter high school in preparing students to navigate the complex college application process and to obtain financial aid. It identified areas needing improvement and elicited suggestions from students. Additionally, the study examined how the Senior Seminar model enhances the unique characteristics of charter schools and how the model of Senior Seminar is seldom seen in traditional public high schools. The study also analyzed how low-income and or minority students’ knowledge of college-related resources and navigation processes influences the rates at which senior students apply for financial aid and four-year universities. Survey administration yielded 41 respondents of which over 62.5% of participants identified themselves as a first-generation college student. All participants were Bay Area residents, reporting graduation from a Bay Area charter high school. Almost three quarters of students (73.69%) responded that Senior Seminar was either “pretty helpful” or “very helpful” in college planning, and 86.85% of students responded that Senior Seminar was either “pretty helpful” or “very helpful” about information on applying and paying for college as well as on filing for FAFSA. Students who are first-generation or of low socioeconomic status face many barriers on the path to college. The support of one-on-one meetings with knowledgeable adults helps students navigate the obstacles to higher education. Senior Seminar, and the tools and resources it provides, is very helpful in assisting students to select, apply, and enroll in college. Senior Seminar also helps students apply for FAFSA before the priority deadline. The data show that students in Senior Seminar apply to multiple colleges, and students plan to attend college after graduation.