🎓 Are High School Graduates Truly Ready for College? A Closer Look at the Readiness Gap

Written By Monica Meng

It’s a moment every student looks forward to—walking across the graduation stage, college acceptance letter in hand, ready to take on the next chapter. But here’s the hard truth that many students and families don’t hear: more and more students are starting college academically unprepared for the work ahead.

A recent report from UC San Diego has pulled back the curtain on this growing concern. While the data comes from one school, it mirrors what many colleges across the country are experiencing: students arriving on campus without the math and writing skills they need to thrive in college-level courses.

📊 Behind the Numbers: A Growing Readiness Gap

Over the last five years, UC San Diego saw a nearly 30-fold increase in students whose math placement test scores indicated skills below the middle school level.

Let that sink in—students who completed Algebra II or even Precalculus in high school were testing into remedial college math focused on elementary concepts like fractions and basic equations.

And it’s not just math. A large portion of students also needed remedial writing instruction, struggling with tasks like analyzing complex texts or structuring coherent arguments. Many of these students had earned solid grades in high school English classes.

So what gives?

🔍 Why Are So Many Students Struggling?

The answer isn’t simple, but several trends are driving this disconnect between high school performance and college expectations:

1. 🦠 The Pandemic’s Lingering Impact

When schools shut down in 2020, learning loss hit hard—and it hasn’t fully recovered. Foundational skills, especially in math, are built over time. Missing those key building blocks early on can have long-term consequences. Today’s high school seniors started remote learning in sixth grade, a critical year for math development.

2. ❌ The End of Standardized Testing

As colleges move away from SAT and ACT requirements, admissions teams are relying more heavily on GPAs. But here’s the catch: grades alone don’t always tell the full story. Grade inflation, especially during and after COVID, has made it harder to know whether a student’s “A” in Algebra truly reflects readiness for college-level work.

3. 🧮 Course Titles vs. Course Mastery

Taking advanced math or English courses in high school sounds impressive, but enrollment doesn’t always equal mastery. At UC San Diego, nearly half of the students placed into the lowest-level math class had completed Precalculus or higher in high school. In other words, they took the class—but didn’t fully understand the material.

4. 📉 Equity Gaps and Access Challenges

Efforts to increase access to college for students from under-resourced schools are critical. But these same students often come from schools with fewer advanced course offerings, larger class sizes, or less experienced teachers. That doesn’t mean they can’t succeed—but it does mean they may need more support than colleges are currently structured to provide.

📣 Why This Matters for Families

For students and families, the message is clear: college admission doesn’t guarantee college readiness. And while acceptance letters are worth celebrating, they shouldn’t mark the end of academic preparation.

When students arrive at college without the academic tools they need, the consequences are real. They face a higher risk of failing required courses, switching out of their intended majors, or even leaving college without a degree. At UC San Diego, students placed into the lowest-level math courses had drop/fail/withdraw (DFW) rates exceeding 50% in advanced math classes needed for STEM majors. Very few completed engineering degrees.

This isn’t just a personal issue for the students—it affects entire campuses. More students needing remedial support means higher strain on instructors, more pressure on academic support services, and potentially lower retention and graduation rates.

✅ What Students Can Do Now to Be Better Prepared for College

Here’s what students can do now to be better prepared for success in college:

✔️ Take four full years of both math and English in high school. Even if your school only requires three, continuing through senior year helps keep skills sharp—and colleges notice.

✔️ Keep strengthening core skills. Reading complex texts, writing clearly, and solving math problems are essential, no matter your intended major.

✔️ Use placement test results as a guide. If your college offers a placement exam, don’t just “get it over with”—use it as a reality check to uncover any gaps early.

✔️ Take advantage of summer bridge or prep programs. Many colleges offer early-start or support programs that can give you a strong foundation before classes begin.

✔️ Talk to your school counselor or a trusted advisor. Ask whether your course load is preparing you for the kind of college-level work your future major will require.

🎯 The Bottom Line

This isn’t about pointing fingers—it’s about recognizing a real and growing gap between high school graduation and college readiness. As families navigate the college admissions journey, the goal isn’t just getting into college—it’s arriving ready to succeed.

With a few smart decisions now, students can walk onto campus with confidence and stay on track for the degree they’ve worked so hard to pursue.

📅 Want to Make Sure You’re on Track?

Let’s talk about how to strengthen your college prep plan early—especially if your student is a freshman, sophomore, or junior. Click here to book a personalized early planning session with me.

Together, we’ll look at your student’s course load, college goals, and readiness indicators—and create a plan that sets them up for success from the start.

🔗 Sources

Monica Meng https://www.educatedpathways.com
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