Disconnected

Abstract

Chapter 6 provides an overview of students in a Disconnected geography. Consistent with previous research, the largest portion of the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen sample are Disconnected. These students, while academically motivated and interested in a social life, struggled to make connections or find a niche, whether through classes, clubs, or social circles. One important commonality among Disconnected respondents was a delay in forming friendships: These students could not form early connections and described how difficult it was to make friends after the initial rush of being new together with other first-year students. Most students in Disconnected geographies did not participate in a substantial precollege program, wading into campus life on their own. Many of our Disconnected respondents were unhappy and unable to locate comfortable spaces on campus, in some cases despite long-term efforts to find a sense of belonging.