Negotiating Ties: A Qualitative Study of First-Generation Female Students' Transitions to College

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Author(s): Nunez, A. M.

Citation: Nunez, A. M. (2005). Negotiating Ties: A Qualitative Study of First-Generation Female Students' Transitions to College. Journal of The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, 17(2), 87-118.

 

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzed the first-year transition experiences of first-generation female students at a large public research university. Using transition theory as a departure point it addresses how students redefine their relationships with family, rather than breaking away from them. Using lenses of cultural and social capital, it demonstrates how institutional agents and programs support, and how family ties, enhance these students' college transitions. Results imply that college campuses should offer an array of accessible support options to monitor students' first-year experiences and address difficulties that emerge in the first year. These options include peer advising networks, college transition courses, targeted academic support programs, and family orientation programs.

 

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