TY  - JOUR
AB  - College aspirations often form by 8th grade, yet first-generation students—those whose parents lack post-secondary education—miss out on resources continuing-generation peers use to make informed decisions about their futures. School-based career advising can help fill this gap. Using 2018 PISA data, this study examined whether the provider (counselors vs. teachers) and scheduling format (formal vs. voluntary) of career advising in the United States and Costa Rica affected first-generation students' college aspirations. In both countries, first-generation students expected to progress less far in their studies than continuing-generation peers, with a larger gap in the United States. Provider specialization was not associated with changes in aspirations in either country, though Costa Rican students may benefit more from counselor advising than teacher advising. Scheduling format also showed no significant association with aspirations. These findings suggest structural barriers facing first-generation students may matter more for college aspirations than how career advising is delivered.
AU  - Mata, Catherine
PY  - 2026
ST  - The Role of Career Advising in High School in Shaping the Aspirations of First-Generation Students
TI  - The Role of Career Advising in High School in Shaping the Aspirations of First-Generation Students
UR  - http://www.edworkingpapers.com/ai26-1547
ER  -