Constructing Brokerage: How First-Generation Latinx Students Fill Information Gaps When Applying to College

• In Event: Illuminating College Access: Shedding Light on College Readiness and Transition Experiences

Abstract

This study examines how first-generation Latinx students navigate the college application process, focusing on their use of capital and brokerage strategies. Drawing on Community Cultural Wealth and Social Network Theory frameworks, I analyze 34 semi-structured interviews with low-income, first-generation Latinx students in California. The findings reveal that these students have limited access to college information brokers and construct brokerage networks independently and collectively as a form of resilience. Students leverage online resources and peer collaboration to fill information gaps, demonstrating various forms of community cultural wealth. This study highlights the resourcefulness of first-generation Latinx students in overcoming structural barriers and creating alternative support systems. Understanding these strategies can inform efforts to improve college access and support for underrepresented students.

Author

• Stephanie Luna-Lopez, University of California - Davis