Record Details
Exploring the lived experiences of rural college student transitions
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Exploring the lived experiences of rural college student transitions |
| Names |
Ast, Karen M.
(creator) Kovac, David C. (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 2014-04-25 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 2014 |
| Abstract | This study explores the lived experiences of first-year, rural, Oregon students in their initial entry to college. Through qualitative research involving one-on-one interviews with 10 participants, the author examines the transition of rural students into higher education, common experiences of rural students in their first term of college, and perceived barriers to postsecondary education for this population. Collective narratives resulted in six themes of an unexpected emotional and social transition to college, motivations for enrolling in college, lack of social and co-curricular involvement, new exposure to diversity and consciousness of a rural identity, prioritization of labor over education in rural communities, and rural secondary school systems as both a barrier and a catalyst for college success. The results of this research provide insight into the experiences of this somewhat unknown social identity in higher education. Implications for future studies and suggestions for improving the college transition for rural students are discussed. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Access Condition | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/ |
| Topic | rural college students |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/48075 |
