First-Generation Student Experiences in Higher Education

<p>In <i>First-Generation Student Experiences in Higher Education: Counterstories</i> we meet eight students who attended university through an access program and hear their stories of deciding to enter university navigating and negotiating the institution and bringing their university experiences with them into adult life. Their counterstories—drawn from application statements weekly group meetings diary entries group conversations interviews and media reports—challenge the stereotypes commonly applied to marginalized students in higher education. Chapters offer insights into a range of salient themes and highlight the students’ strategies challenges successes and trajectories as well as their nuanced relationships with their networks communities families and significant others. With this volume James and Taylor present a valuable resource for educators administrators scholars students and community agencies interested in extending understandings of first-generation university students.</p>