The Role of High School Career-Focused Advising in Students’ Postsecondary Planning: A Qualitative Study
The goal of this study was to provide insights on the extent to which high school students receive support for college and career planning, the mechanisms through which they receive this information, and how this varies across students and settings using data from a multi-state, multi-study project focused on advising for postsecondary transitions. Findings indicate that advising practices were largely shaped by each school’s academic focus and staff expectations. Additionally, the study highlights the important role that advisors and other school personnel, particularly CTE teachers, play in helping students link their interests with available school-supported preparation activities and underscores the benefits of personalized, proactive advising tailored to individual student needs.