Information access and college admission outcomes

This paper provides quasi-experimental evidence on the effects of information access in centralized college admissions. Using administrative data, we exploit a batched dynamic matching mechanism in the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia to compare students just above and below batch cutoffs. Once higher-scoring students have finalized their choices, those just below the cutoffs gain additional information that helps them identify the set of feasible colleges. As a result, they are more likely to apply to reach options and are admitted to more selective colleges. The effects are strongest near batch cutoffs where information access matters most.