The Impact of Race and Socioeconomic Status on the Carolina Experience (2008)

Undergraduate: Nneka Utti

Faculty Advisor: Sandy Smith-Nonini
Department: Anthropology

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Past studies have revealed that socioeconomic status, academic preparedness, and minority student’s sense of belonging can impact their college experience at predominantly white universities. Micro aggressions which are implicit forms of racism cause minorities at such institutions to express feelings of self doubt and frustration. (Ceja, Solorzano, &Yosso 69) For many students the transition into a predominantly white university is not easy if they lack a strong support system. Other factors ranging from a student’s knowledge about the university system to their comfort level around members of the majority race can impact their academic success as well. Racial and behavioral stereotyping makes it difficult for minority students to make a positive college transition. Even so, negative experiences of African American students at predominantly white universities are not racially exclusive. They are contingent upon other factors including situational circumstances based on socioeconomic status and interracial group interaction. (Allen 1985) I am interested in discovering how and why these differences are evident within interracial student interactions. If factors such as socioeconomic class, interracial relations, and diversity shape college experiences then students of similar racial backgrounds should face particular academic struggles as opposed to race alone.