This qualitative interview study focuses on the challenges and barriers of 1.5 generations of undocumented young adults with their liminal status in carving their present and curating their future lives in the United States. The study focuses on how these 1.5 young emerging adults navigate their lives to pursue their life goals with the…

Higher education institutions have been grappling with significant enrollment declines and have urgently implemented retention strategies to sustain their student populations amid shifting demographics and economic challenges (American Association of Community Colleges, 2023; Hanover Research, 2021). However, these programs often neglect the…

This intrinsic case study investigated the experiences of select low-income and first-generation students who participated in the Upward Bound program throughout high school to understand how participation influenced enrollment at a postsecondary institution. Two theoretical frameworks guided this research study: Astin's (1984) I-E-O model and…

An insufficiency of research exists concerning active-duty enlisted soldiers pursuing education beyond a high school diploma. Although Army leaders and the American people support higher education, only 15.9% of active-duty enlisted soldiers have an education past a high school diploma. The purpose of this study was to explore the interpretations…

Student-athletes' persistence to graduate has been a consistent topic of debate. The lack of information from the student-athletes' perspective about what impacts their persistence has created a gap where institutions, coaches, and sporting agencies lack the proper support system to ensure their success. This qualitative phenomenological study…

In this qualitative study, I investigated the ways in which refugee youth in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya perceive the extent to which the camp schools have provided them with educational capabilities that can enable them to reach their aspirations and goals, within the difficult conditions under which they live and learn about the…

Recent research based on the Dweck's mindset theory has shown that persons with a growth mindset who believe traits such as intelligence are malleable may put forth more effort and have greater academic success than those with a fixed mindset. However, little research has been conducted on mindsets of college students, many of whom enter…

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how students who are refugees describe their social supports, with a focus on their relationships with those who are supportive of their interest in higher education both within and outside of the school system. Few studies have explored the social capital of these students, and how…

This study researched educational/career aspirations of thirty-one Hmong students attending high school in the Midwest United States. Historically, Hmong students have faced a variety of barriers in their schooling. Schools need to address the hidden equity issues facing Hmong students. The social and cultural messages in the classroom speak to a…

This document presents an investigation of the experience of academic stress of college students in the early 21st century. It was an independent generic qualitative investigation that sought to examine the ideas, beliefs, and overt opinions of this construct in order to fill a gap that existed in the literature concerning the lack of documented…

The primary purpose of this study was to collect evidence on the construct validity of grit using convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity principles. To accomplish this purpose and extend previous research on grit, college students from two schools completed an instrument comprised of a cognitive ability test, and a questionnaire. The…

South Korean college students face substantial familial, financial, peer and societal challenges for pursuing their educational pathways and career advancement. Currently, America has venerated the high-stakes, standardized test scores of East Asian students as a panacea for the nation's public education challenges. The objective of this case…

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in science dual enrollment courses influenced African American high school students' post-secondary aspirations that will lead to college attendance. The investigation examined the relationship between African American students' learning experiences and how their self-efficacy and outcome…

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of customized individual counseling interventions on the career and college readiness of adolescents within foster care. An intervention program, consisting of customized individual interventions, entitled "Students That Are Reaching Success" ("S.T.A.R.S.") was created by the…

Against all odds, first-generation college students continue to enroll in postsecondary schools with aspirations of obtaining a bachelor's degree. Unfortunately, many have not successfully reached their goal, which in turn has affected retention rates of colleges and universities. There are programs that provide academic support and advising to…