Valentin Tissot

 

A substantial body of literature highlights the labor market benefits of attending elite higher education, but less is known about its effects on students’ well-being. In France, admission to selective tracks (« Higher school preparatory classes ») is determined through a centralized process based on local ranking. Using a regression discontinuity design, we investigate the impact of scoring just above the cutoff on students’ well-being after enrollment. Using unique survey data, we find that scoring above the cutoff increases students’ selective track enrollment by 66 percentage points and boosts satisfaction by 0.58 standard deviations for those who enroll. Students in these selective tracks miss fewer classes, feel more optimistic about their professional future, and, despite initial challenges, report feeling less overworked in subsequent years. They are also less likely to study alone. Boys and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds benefit the most from attending selective tracks. Five years later, these students continue to report higher well-being and are more likely to graduate with a master’s degree from an elite school.

 

Authors: Valentin Tissot (BSE) and Sarah Flèche (Université Paris 1, CNRS, CES)