Digital Divide Hits College-Admissions Process

Some students lack hardware, savvy

With an Internet connection and the click of a mouse, today's high school student has access to the world of higher education in fingertip reach.

A student can walk the grounds of a college campus a thousand miles away without setting foot in another zip code; get instantly matched with potential sources of scholarship funding without meeting with a counselor; and apply for multiple colleges through one online application without taking a trip to the post office.

But while technology is changing the face of college admissions, not all students are reaping the benefits of this virtual access to resources and information. For disadvantaged students lacking awareness or the digital-connection capabilities, entry into college may become harder to...