Preparing for College

At the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis at the University of Southern California, William G. Tierney is Director and the Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education, Zoë B. Corwin is Research Assistant, and Julia E. Colyar is Postdoctoral Research Associate. Tierney has written many books, including Increasing Access to College: Extending Possibilities for All Students (coedited with Linda Serra Hagedorn), also published by SUNY Press.

"This volume covers most of the major topics that the organizers of effective postsecondary encouragement programs should consider as they develop a comprehensive set of support services for low-income and first-generation students. The authors do an effective job of synthesizing relevant literature and providing practical suggestions regarding the implications of the research for providing support for students and their families … One of the strengths of this book is that it helps practitioners determine how to spend their most precious resources, time and money, as they work to support students." — The Journal of Higher Education"The book is well written and addresses questions of interest for those designing and/or studying college preparatory programs." — CHOICE"Limitations in educational funding make measurable outcomes even more critical for outreach programs. The authors' arguments for programs that are based on sound theoretical arguments and effective program outcomes will not go unheeded. This is a valuable text for administrators, counselors, researchers, and faculty members who study or participate in programs to improve the achievement of underrepresented youths." — Ken Kempner, coeditor of The Social Role of Higher Education: Comparative Perspectives

• Acknowledgments Introduction: Engaging Research and Practice—Extracurricular and Curricular Influences on College AccessZoë B. Corwin, Julia E. Colyar, William G.Tierney Part 1: Social Support Networks 1. The Role of Culture in College Preparation Programs: A Review of the Research LiteratureOctavio Villalpando and Daniel G. Solorzano 2. Toward Developing an Untapped Resource: The Role of Families in College PreparationWilliam G. Tierney and Susan Auerbach 3. The Role of Peer Groups in College Preparation ProgramsWilliam G. Tierney and Julia E. Colyar 4. Counseling Matters: Knowledge, Assistance, and Organizational Commitment in College PreparationPatricia M. McDonough 5. Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Mentoring as a Strategy to Increase Access to Higher EducationPatricia Gándara and Maria Mejorado Part 2: Programmatic Elements 6. The Key to College Access: Rigorous Academic PreparationLaura W. Perna 7. Cocurricular Activities and Students' College Prospects: Is There a Connection?James C. Hearn and Janet M. Holdsworth 8. A Dream Deferred: The Critical Factor of Timing in College Preparation and OutreachMarguerite Bonous-Hammarth and Walter R. Allen 9. Value Added: The Costs and Benefits of College Preparatory Programs in the United StatesWatson Scott Swail Conclusion: Making Sense of What We Know—From Nine Propositions to Future Research and InterventionsRobert Rueda References Contributors Index List of Titles, SUNY series: Frontiers in Education