Students’ summer experiences during college potentially influence their postsecondary outcomes and job placement. Little is known, however, about how college students spend their summers. Drawing from prior research, current strands of literature, and Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of societal reproduction, the author suggests that scholars explore the possibility of a Summer Divide. The author’s argument is twofold: (1) focusing on the summer might provide further insight to students’ postsecondary outcomes and (2) class hierarchies might be further reified during the summer.
AttewellPHeilSReiselL (2012) What is academic momentum? And does it matter?Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis34(1): 27–44.
2.
BourdieuP (1984) Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
3.
FrankeRBicknellB (2018) Taking a break, or taking a class? Examining the effects of incentivized summer enrollment on student persistence. Research in Higher Education. Epub ahead of print 9 August 2018. DOI: 10.1007/s11162-018-9527-x.
4.
GrossLS (2004) Creating meaning from intersections of career and cultural identity. New Directions for Student Services2004(105): 63–77.
5.
JohnsonSPSpradlinTE (2007) Alternatives to the traditional school-year calendar. Education Policy Brief5(3): 1–11.
6.
NACE (2016) The Class of 2016 Student Survey Report: Executive Summary. Available at: www.naceweb.org/surveys/student.aspx(accessed 12 March 2018).
OrndorffRMHerrEL (1996) A comparative study of declared and undeclared college students on career uncertainty and involvement in career development activities. Journal of Counseling & Development74(6): 632–639.
9.
PenderMMarcotteDEDomingoMRS. (2010) The STEM pipeline: the role of summer research experience in minority students’ Ph. D. aspirations. Education Policy Analysis Archives18(30): 1–36.
10.
RiveraL (2015) Pedigree: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
11.
TaylorPParkerKFryR. (2011) Is college worth it? College presidents, public assess value, quality and mission of higher education. Pew Research Center: Social and Demographic Trends. Available at: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/05/15/is-college-worth-it/(accessed 12 March 2018).
12.
TimmonsPOsbornD (eds) (2018) Effective practices in college and university career services [Special issue]. Career Planning & Adult Development Journal. 34(2): 7–19.
13.
TrillingBFadelC (2009) 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.
14.
TudorTR (2018) Fully integrating academic advising with career coaching to increase student retention, graduation rates and future job satisfaction: an industry approach. Industry and Higher Education32(2): 73–79.
