Experiences and Outcomes of First-Generation Students in Community Colleges
Abstract
First-generation college students (i.e., students whose parents have never attended college) are the focus of a growing body of research. The weight of evidence from this research suggests that, compared to their peers, first-generation students are at a disadvantage with respect to: basic knowledge about postsecondary education (e.g., costs, application process), level of family income and support, degree expectations and plans, and secondary school academic preparation (e.g., Berkner & Chavez, 1997; Hossler, Schmidt, & Vesper, 1999; Warburton, Bugarin, & Nunez, 2001). Moreover, as summarized by Terenzini, Springer, Yaeger, Pascarella, and Nora (1996), first-generation students also have a more problematic transition from secondary school to college than other students. First-generation students confront all the anxieties, dislocations, and difficulties of any college student; but their experiences often involve additional cultural as well as social and academic transitions (Rendon, 1992; Rendon, Hope, & Associates, 1996; Terenzini et al., 1994).
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Cites
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Social Capital and Academic Motivation Among First-Generation Community College Students
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- Authors
- Pascarella, E. T., Wolniak, G. C., Pierson, C. T., & Terenzini, P. T.
- Affiliations
- University of Iowa (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- ORCID
- Wolniak, Gregory C
- Venue
- Journal of College Student Development
- Publisher
- Project MUSE
- Published
- 2003-05
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 420-429
- ISSN
- 0897-5264 (ISSN-L)
- 1543-3382
- OpenAlex
- W2025433158
- Semantic Scholar
- d5b7aba76268eaeccf49888fbd45a19c446162c6
- Cited by
- 141
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 9.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of college student development (publishedVersion)
- Project Muse (Johns Hopkins University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education Research Studies
- Social Sciences › Education › Education and Military Integration
- Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education Practises and Engagement
- Keywords
- first-generation college students, community colleges, transition to college, parental education, family support, academic preparation, student outcomes
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