Uneven Paths: Agricultural Pathways that Lead Students to Enroll

Abstract

For colleges of agriculture (COAs) throughout the US, recruitment and retention of undergraduate students is a matter of existential importance. We analyzed personal statements written by applicants accepted to an undergraduate degree program at [State] College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to determine what previous interactions with agriculture played an important role in the decision to apply. The 491 students who submitted written materials as a part of their application to CALS described an array of agriculture pathways that we classified as categories of work and volunteer experience, clubs, coursework, personal history, and leisure. Our study found that 319 students, or 65%, described at least one pathway that played a role in their choice to apply. We found that most pathways were dominated by White students. Just 8.8% of students with at least one agriculture pathway were from a minoritized group. Further, we calculated the mean first term [State] CALS GPA (FTGPA) and graduation rate after six years for each of the pathway groups. We found that students who discussed FFA participation had relatively high FTGPAs and graduation rates. Additionally, students intending to become veterinarians had relatively high FTGPA but low six-year graduation rates.