The Developing Purposes of Low-income College Students in China’s Elite Universities

• In Event: Global Higher Education and Visions of Social Justice

Abstract

This study is to explore how socioeconomic background and university culture interact to influence low income students’ developing and realizing goals in China’s elite universities. Through interviewing low income students in Tsinghua University, one of the most elite universities in China, the paper finds out that low income students usually continue to pursue master degree to strength their advantage in job market, but none of them pursue doctoral degree or study abroad. For their long-term goals, commitments to families are more important than personal interests. When they develop and practice these goals, they can not get support from families. They only rely on university resources. Compared to other students, they usually take advantage of university resources more actively.

Author

• Wanxia Zhao, Indiana University - Bloomington