The Experiences and Attributes of Low-Income Students at Tufts University
Sadowski, Katherine Taylor
2010
- This paper focuses on the experiences of eight low-income students at an elite university and the personal characteristics they use to approach their undergraduate educations. I explore their educational backgrounds in order to explain the ways in which they adapt to the environment that is distinct to an elite university, in this case Tufts. I argue that their values are consistent with the values ... read moreof the student body as a whole and they indicate a strong sense of belonging, thus they interpret their experiences as positive. My analysis includes an investigation of students' attributes and experiences that mitigate the negative influences imposed by their limited economic capital. While students perceive their experiences as positive, I call attention to their complex interpretations of the influence of social class on campus and suggest that they still face significant financial limitations that put them at a disadvantage as compared to other students. The challenges resulting from their low-income status also creates a social distance between them and the higher-income students, which they claim is unnoticed by their peers. Though low-income students appear to be successful in this elite environment, their experiences are defined by personal cycles of struggle and mitigation, which contribute to their overwhelmingly self-aware experiences.read less
- ID:
- 0r967f91m
- Component ID:
- tufts:UA005.011.025.00001
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
