What Limits College Success? A Review and Further Analysis of Holzer and Baum's Making College Work
Journal of Economic Literature
vol. 59,
no. 2, June 2021
(pp. 546-73)
Abstract
Harry J. Holzer and Sandy 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: (i) who gains from college and why, (ii) mismatch and the need for more structure, (iii) problems with remediation, (iv) financial barriers, and (v) 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.Citation
Oreopoulos, Philip. 2021. "What Limits College Success? A Review and Further Analysis of Holzer and Baum's Making College Work." Journal of Economic Literature, 59 (2): 546-73. DOI: 10.1257/jel.20191614Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I22 Educational Finance; Financial Aid
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- I24 Education and Inequality