Exploring the College Choice of Latinx Students in Rural Texas

Abstract

Latina/o rural students are underrepresented in college and the research of their college choice process. Using Bourdieu’s habitus, and Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth Conceptual Model, this qualitative study used interviews with 24 Latina/o rural high school students. Our findings explored how school habitus limits college options. Students use navigational capital when selecting a “good program” and rely on familial-capital, high aspirations, and other forms of capital to choose a college.