Achievement

Stops and Starts: Community college pathways of low-income mothers: Trainee Nicole Deterding triangulates survey data and 125 life history interviews to examine post-secondary pathways traveled by economically disadvantaged young mothers attending community college. Two logics emerge. ‘Expressive thinkers’ focus on the college degree as a sign of ‘making it.’ By and large, these are students with the least information about the college landscape. Their pathways look haphazard and frequently change course. In contrast, ‘instrumental thinkers’ weigh the costs and benefits of attending college. Coupled with quality information about career options and educational requirements, these students strategically engage with higher education and make progress toward their goals. Without quality info, however, their calculations often fail, resulting in unhelpful technical certifications or frustrating experiences at for-profit institutions that do not require baseline academic competency.