“Why Are You Going to Community College?” College-Conocimiento and Latinx Transfer Students’ Two-Year College Decisions

ABSTRACT

Emerging scholarship has centered the college decisions of community college students. This study extends college choice literature by examining the testimonios from 25 traditional college-age Latinx students in California who enrolled in community college with the goal of transferring. The findings highlight how information about community college is difficult to access as well as how students felt stigmatized by others for choosing the community college pathway. Yet, despite these challenges, once enrolled in community college, students developed pride and felt empowered about their decision. Implications for research and practice are provided.

Plain Language Summary

A high percentage of Latinx students are enrolled in community college. This study looked at how 25 traditionally college-age Latinx students who had transferred from a California community college described their college choice process into two-year institutions. The results show that many students were apprehensive about attending a community college because they received little or no support to enroll. Once they committed to attending a community college, they felt stigmatized about their decision. Yet, despite these challenges, students developed a sense of pride in their choice. We include implications for practitioners to support students on the community college pathway

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the American Educational Research Association Division G.