Unequal Embeddedness: Universities' Influence on Underrepresented Students' Knowledge of and Access to Graduate School

• In Event: Digging Into Degrees: Exploring Graduate Education

Abstract

I examine how low-income Hmong, Chinese, and Mexican American students learn about graduate school at two public research universities and the differences in graduate school support at these two schools. Through in-depth interviews with 48 students, I find that students who are embedded in the research and academic networks are more likely to learn about graduate school than those not embedded in these networks. There are also differences at these two universities. Large Public Research University provides more resources and opportunities, but it is bigger so students get lost easily in navigation. Small Public Research University has fewer resources for graduate school. They both fall short in helping these students prepare for graduate school.

Author

• Houa Vang, California State University - Stanislaus
  Presenting Author