Getting There: Paths From High School to University for Queer Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session 124
  In Roundtable Session: Queering Institutions and Using Queer Institutions

Abstract

While the queer students and their experiences have been examines in the field of Higher Education (HE), there is minimal research that considers how queer students manage the transition between high school and post-secondary studies, specifically university level education. Drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 26 queer students, I examine how these students made the transition from secondary school to their current program of study at UBC. I found that while a majority of students transitioned directly to UBC from their secondary education locally and abroad, a small minority arrived at UBC through other educational paths. As a result, I conclude that the use of ‘Running Start’ and College Transfer programs provide alternative paths to university studies for queer students.

Author

• Rachael E. Sullivan, The University of British Columbia