Academic preparedness and college preparation efforts: A comparative analysis of perception of high school advanced placement teachers and college admissions personnel.

摘要

This study examines the relationship between high school efforts at post-secondary preparation for college bound students and the expectations of college and university admissions personnel. The Advanced Placement (AP) teachers and administrators at a rural Northwest Florida high school were administered a quantitative survey in order to collect their perceptions on which strategies and methodologies were most appropriate in preparing high school students for both AP exams as well as preparation for college. The results of this survey were then shared with admission staff from a college and university located in the same county and their responses collected qualitatively. The results demonstrated that while there were some similarities of expectation between the two groups, there were also areas of non-academic preparation, such as self-advocacy and understanding of college procedure and terminology that were not determined as pertinent to the high school personnel. The study determined a need for increased communication between the college, university and high school groups in order to better meet expectations of college preparation at the post-secondary level.