A survey of 5,037 applicants to 12 colleges in the University of Kentucky Community College System revealed that first-generation enrollees came from a unique socioeconomic background, were motivated by a different set of goals, and were constrained by a different set of limitations than those whose parents were college educated (based on cui-square analyses and t tests). No significant differences were detected, however, between first-generation and other students in their total hours earned and cumulative GPAs at the end of their first year attending a college in the system.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Brooks-Terry, M. (1988). Tracing the disadvantages of first-generation college students: An application of Sussman's option sequence model. In S. K. Steinmetz (Ed.), Family and support systems across the life span (pp. 121-134). New York: Plenum Press.
2.
Cross, P. K.1990. Transfer: Major mission of community colleges? (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 322 972)
3.
Dougherty, K. J. (1994). The contradictory college: The conflicting origins, impacts, andfutures of the community college. Albany: State University of New York Press.
4.
John Tyler Community College. 1995. John Tyler Community College weekend college: Thefirst semester. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 387 156)
5.
Hellman, C. M. (1996). Academic self-efficacy: Highlighting the first-generation student. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 4(1), 69-75.
6.
London, H. B. (1989). Breaking away: A study of first-generation college students and their families. American Journal of Education, 97(2), 144-170.
7.
McGreggor, L. N., Mayleben, M. A., Buzzanga, V. L., Davis, S. F., & Becker, A. H. (1991). Selected personality characteristics of first-generation college students. College Student Journal, 25(2), 231-234.
8.
Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. T. (1991). How college affects students. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
9.
Pratt, P. A., & Skaggs, C. T. (1989). First generation college students: Are they at greater risk for attrition than their peers?Research in Rural Education, 6(2), 31-34.
10.
Riehl, R. J. (1994). The academic preparation, aspirations, and first-year performance of first-generation students. College and University, 70(1), 14-19.
11.
Rosenthal, R. (1991). Meta-analytic procedures for social research. Newbury Park, California: Sage Publications, Inc.
12.
Terenzini, P. T., Rendon, L. L., Upcraft, M. L., Millar, S. B., Allison, K. W., Gregg, P. L., & Jalomo, R. (1994). The transition to college: Diverse students, diverse stories. Research in Higher Education, 35(1), 57-73.
13.
Terenzini, P. T., Springer, L., Yaeger, P. M., Pascarella, E. T., & Nora, A. (1996). First generation college students: Characteristics, experiences, and cognitive development. Research in Higher Education, 37(1), 1-22.
14.
Tulsa Junior College. 1995. New student inventory survey results FY 1995. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 388 343)
15.
Willet, L. H. (1989). Are two-year college students first-generation college students?Community College Review, 17(2), 48-52.
16.
Windham, P.1996. Demographics: Diversity in more forms. Student demographics, now and the future. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 398 951)
17.
York-Anderson, D. C., & Bowman, S. L. (1991). Assessing the college knowledge of first-generation and second-generation college students. Journal of College Student Development, 32, 116-122.
