The First-Year Transition of Rural Students at a Highly Selective University

Abstract: Drawing from focus group interviews with rural students at a highly selective university, this article underscores the importance of the notion that the college transition serves as a key moment of rural consciousness. Bringing together the perspectives of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Schlossberg’s transition theory, the findings from this study suggest students’ academic and social experiences may differ across institutional types. As colleges strive to diversify their student bodies and promote inclusivity, insights from the study of rural students can inform the development of effective retention and support strategies.