| This study explored the first year college experience of ethnic minority backgrounds using qualitative methodology of interviews, surveys, and student records to provide more insight into the integration, adjustment and transition of these students into college. The ten students were selected from a campus of 26,000 students at a public university in the southwestern part of the U.S.A., and were from three ethnic minority backgrounds: Hispanic, African- and Native-American. Students participated in five individual interviews beginning the week prior to the fall semester through the week of the spring semester of their first year of college, and a follow-up interview during the third year of college.;Five major areas of their first year college experience emerged as important findings: academic integration into college was the greatest and most difficult adjustment; attitudes of determination and motivation were key qualities possessed by all students; positive institutional factors which helped students integrate to college were living in the residence halls, participating in first year support programs, and having a significant other at the university; the importance of family and cultural values; and how they were able to integrate into a predominately White university. |
