Working Class and Working College: a Case Study of First Generation, Working Class, College Students

This book is a case study involving four, first- generation, working-class, college students. The study chronicles the experiences of these students during their first semester in college. The research question for the study was: How do first generation, working class college students make the necessary academic, social and cultural adjustments to college? The study focused on these students' preparation for college, the support they perceived receiving for attending college, their feelings of belonging to the college campus, and how their social class affected their college experience. The study found that the students' social class had a negative effect on their ability to succeed in college. This book was written for higher education administrators, academic advisors, and faculty members and is useful for professionals who wish to learn more about the college experience of first generation, working class college students. It is also useful for college administrators working to increase the retention rates of these same students.