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The role of information in the application for highly selective scholarships: Evidence from a randomized field experiment

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  • Herber, Stefanie P.

Abstract

This paper analyzes whether information asymmetries prevent students from a non-academic background, i.e., students who are the first in their families to study, from applying for highly selective scholarships. I randomly assigned German higher education students to receive either general information on these scholarships or additionally personalized information on details of the application process conveyed by a similar role model. The combination of the general information with the role model interview significantly increased application probabilities for scholarships of students from non-academic families. Providing general information on the scholarship system only triggered students’ own information search for alternative funding sources and increased application rates for other not federally funded scholarships.

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  • Herber, Stefanie P., 2018. "The role of information in the application for highly selective scholarships: Evidence from a randomized field experiment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 287-301.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:62:y:2018:i:c:p:287-301
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2017.12.001
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    2. Estelle Herbaut & Koen Geven, 2019. "What Works to Reduce Inequalities in Higher Education? A Systematic Review of the (Quasi-)Experimental Literature on Outreach and Financial Aid," Sciences Po publications info:hdl:2441/527ht1a96e8, Sciences Po.
    3. Deetlefs, A.M. Jeanette & Chalmers, Jenny & Tindall, Karen & Wiryakusuma-McLeod, Cindy & Bennett, Sue & Hay, Iain & Humphries, Jacqueline & Eady, Michelle J. & Cronin, Lynette & Rudd, Karl, 2021. "Applying behavioral insights to increase rural and remote internships: Results from two Randomized Controlled Trials," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    4. Sam Jones & Ricardo Santos, 2020. "Updating great expectations: The effect of peer salary information on own-earnings forecasts," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-138, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Peter, Frauke & Spiess, C. Katharina & Zambre, Vaishali, 2021. "Informing students about college: Increasing enrollment using a behavioral intervention?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 524-549.
    6. Estelle Herbaut & Koen Geven, 2019. "What Works to Reduce Inequalities in Higher Education? A Systematic Review of the (Quasi-)Experimental Literature on Outreach and Financial Aid," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03456943, HAL.
    7. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/527ht1a96e837pq2dubgo2953q is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Estelle Herbaut & Koen Geven, 2019. "What Works to Reduce Inequalities in Higher Education? A Systematic Review of the (Quasi-)Experimental Literature on Outreach and Financial Aid," Working Papers hal-03456943, HAL.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information asymmetries; Student financial aid; Merit-based scholarship; Role model; Field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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