Major decisions: How social class shapes undergraduate achievement

TL;DRAbstract

Higher education is a critical pathway for social mobility in American society, yet social class disparities in college outcomes raise questions about the promise of this opportunity. Existing research fails to explain what actually happens in college to promote or hinder student success and social mobility. Drawing upon more than 200 in-depth interviews and 800 hours of participant observation at an urban, public comprehensive university, this dissertation research investigates the role of social class in undergraduate academic achievement during the first two years of college. Findings reveal social class differences in undergraduate engagement, which leads to achievement, and that the choice of academic major mediates student engagement. To further explore the process of undergraduate major selection, this study considers the ways students acquire and utilize sources of advice and information and ultimately select majors. It finds that students from different social class background

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