Inclusivity in Postsecondary Preparation: Fostering Success for Each and Every Student

Background: Postsecondary enrollment has declined since 2010, with persistent racial and ethnic disparities in college access. Students of color face multiple barriers to receiving postsecondary preparation support, and school counselors are uniquely positioned to address these gaps. Yet limited research examines students’ direct experiences with high school counselors specifically regarding postsecondary planning, particularly across diverse demographic groups. Objectives: This study aimed to (a) investigate college students’ experiences with postsecondary preparation and school counselor support during high school, and (b) identify culturally responsive strategies school counselors can use to improve postsecondary access and equity for students of color. Research Questions: What do college students report were their experiences with postsecondary preparation and with their high school counselor during the postsecondary preparation process? Do experiences differ across demographic groups? What can schools and school counselors do to improve the postsecondary preparation process for all students? Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed with 404 undergraduate participants recruited through Qualtrics research panels. A 40-item survey included 24 Likert-scale questions across three conceptual sections and five open-ended questions. We analyzed quantitative data using ANOVA and qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results and Conclusions: Participants reported largely neutral perceptions of school counselor support and postsecondary preparation resources, with multiracial students reporting significantly lower comfort and perceived cultural understanding from school counselors. Findings underscore the need for culturally responsive, identity-affirming, and advocacy-driven school counseling practices to close persistent postsecondary opportunity gaps.