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First-generation college students’ motives to start university education: An investment in self- development, one’s economic prospects or to become a role model?
Keppens,Gil Boone,S. Consuegra,E. Laurijssen,I. Spruyt,B. van Droogenbroeck,F.
Keppens,Gil
Boone,S.
Consuegra,E.
Laurijssen,I.
Spruyt,B.
van Droogenbroeck,F.
Abstract
In this article, we engage with the emerging literature that studies the increased enrolment of first-generation college students (FGCS), that is, students from households where neither parent has obtained a bachelor’s /master’s degree. Our article answers two research questions. First, data from 2,338 first-year students are used to investigate the extent to which FGCS differ from continuing-generation college students (CGCS) concerning the reason why one enrols in university education. Second, to what degree do these motives explain differences in study choice? Our results show that FCGS, compared to CGCS, more strongly endorsed the economic investment motive and what we call the social investment motive, that is, the motivation to become a role model for one’s community. In addition, our findings reveal that the choice for more economically rewarding fields of study is related to these motives to start a university education. In the conclusion, we discuss the implications of our findings.
Description
This research has received funding from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel under the ASP 2030 grant agreement.
Date
2023
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Publisher
Research Projects
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Keywords
ACHIEVEMENT, ATTRITION, BEHAVIOR, CULTURE, EXPERIENCES, Education, FUTILITY, INEQUALITY, SELECTION, SENSE, STRATIFICATION, immigrants, mobility, social class, survey, young people, SDG 1 - No Poverty
Citation
Keppens, G, Boone, S, Consuegra, E, Laurijssen, I, Spruyt, B & van Droogenbroeck, F 2023, 'First-generation college students’ motives to start university education : An investment in self- development, one’s economic prospects or to become a role model?', Young, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 142-160. https://doi.org/10.1177/11033088221139393