Parental Education and the Responses to Higher SAT Scores

Abstract

<h3>Abstract</h3> Using discontinuities within the Swedish SAT system, we study the causal impact of additional admission opportunities on participation in higher education among high-ability students. Students with low-educated parents who marginally pass an SAT score threshold, are more likely to enroll and graduate from programs they could have attended even with a lower score. This suggests that they face behavioral barriers even in a setting where colleges are tuition-free, student grants universal, and application systems simple. In contrast, students with high-educated parents respond to enhanced opportunities in ways that appear rational and informed; particularly by switching to higher-quality, more competitive programs.