Pennsylvania community college students interested in earning baccalaureate degrees: a qualitative analysis of their decision-making experiences

Pennsylvania community college students interested in earning baccalaureate degrees: a qualitative analysis of their decision-making experiences. (2018). Pennsylvania community college students interested in earning baccalaureate degrees: a qualitative analysis of their decision-making experiences.

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Title	Pennsylvania community college students interested in earning baccalaureate degrees: a qualitative analysis of their decision-making experiences
Abstract	This qualitative narrative research study explores the reasons that undergraduate transfer students make college and career planning decisions. The insights of community college students who expressed interest in completing a bachelor's degree but did not enroll at a university were compared with the perspectives of university students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program who had successfully transferred from a community college. The student input was analyzed to determine if there were differences in their decision-making experiences. Sixteen undergraduate students enrolled at higher education institutions in Pennsylvania responded to open-ended questions related to choosing a college and degree major, navigating the transfer admissions process, and participating in extracurricular activities. The participants provided viewpoints for ways in which they engaged with academic advising and transfer student support services and the influences that motivated their decisions. The qualitative data analysis resulted in nine emergent themes related to community college transfer student decision-making. The study concludes with a discussion and recommendations for further investigation. Understanding the student decision-making experiences of community college transfer students provides fellow-students, parents, education leaders, and policymakers with insights to support student success.
Date	2018

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Title: Pennsylvania community college students interested in earning baccalaureate degrees: a qualitative analysis of their decision-making experiences
Personal Name(s): Fetterolf, Annette M.
Piper, David M.
Corporate Name(s): Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Professional Studies in Education.
Note: Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Piper, David M. Committee members: Kelli Jo Kerry-Moran; Kelli Paquette.
Topical Subject(s): Community college education
Higher Education Administration
Higher education