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'I'm in a Different Place in Life': A Qualitative Study of Rural Adult Transfer Student Choices

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Title: 'I'm in a Different Place in Life': A Qualitative Study of Rural Adult Transfer Student Choices
Language: English
Authors: Tynsley Gilchrist, Carmen Serrata (ORCID 0000-0001-5565-0746), Mark M. D'Amico, Ryan A. Miller, Cathy D. Howell
Source: Community College Journal of Research and Practice. 2025 49(4-5):323-340.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Adult Education
Descriptors: Community College Students, Adult Students, College Transfer Students, Rural Colleges, Rural Population, Student Motivation, Barriers, College Choice, Student Attitudes, Family Influence, Time Factors (Learning), Student Costs
Geographic Terms: North Carolina
DOI: 10.1080/10668926.2024.2436390
ISSN: 1066-8926
1521-0413
Abstract: Rural adult students' intersectional identities inform many of their decisions about college, including the choice to transfer from a community college to a university. This qualitative study sought to understand how rural adult students' social and relational identities shape their transfer plans and choice sets. The study examines the choice process of 12 pre- and post-transfer community college students who identified as adult students and attended a rural-serving institution (RSI) within the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). The findings emphasize the importance of students' relational identities as key motivational drivers to pursue higher education. Data analysis revealed the factors students consider as they bind their transfer destination choice sets. Findings from this study have significant practical implications for community colleges and universities as they develop transfer policy and practice.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1498492
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: 'I'm in a Different Place in Life': A Qualitative Study of Rural Adult Transfer Student Choices
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tynsley+Gilchrist%22">Tynsley Gilchrist</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carmen+Serrata%22">Carmen Serrata</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5565-0746">0000-0001-5565-0746</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mark+M%2E+D'Amico%22">Mark M. D'Amico</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ryan+A%2E+Miller%22">Ryan A. Miller</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cathy+D%2E+Howell%22">Cathy D. Howell</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Community+College+Journal+of+Research+and+Practice%22"><i>Community College Journal of Research and Practice</i></searchLink>. 2025 49(4-5):323-340.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: 18
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+College+Students%22">Community College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adult+Students%22">Adult Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Transfer+Students%22">College Transfer Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Colleges%22">Rural Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Population%22">Rural Population</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Motivation%22">Student Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Choice%22">College Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+Influence%22">Family Influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time+Factors+%28Learning%29%22">Time Factors (Learning)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Costs%22">Student Costs</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22North+Carolina%22">North Carolina</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/10668926.2024.2436390
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  Data: 1066-8926<br />1521-0413
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  Data: Rural adult students' intersectional identities inform many of their decisions about college, including the choice to transfer from a community college to a university. This qualitative study sought to understand how rural adult students' social and relational identities shape their transfer plans and choice sets. The study examines the choice process of 12 pre- and post-transfer community college students who identified as adult students and attended a rural-serving institution (RSI) within the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). The findings emphasize the importance of students' relational identities as key motivational drivers to pursue higher education. Data analysis revealed the factors students consider as they bind their transfer destination choice sets. Findings from this study have significant practical implications for community colleges and universities as they develop transfer policy and practice.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1498492
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1498492
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        Value: 10.1080/10668926.2024.2436390
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 323
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Community College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adult Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Transfer Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Colleges
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      – SubjectFull: Rural Population
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      – SubjectFull: Student Motivation
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
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      – SubjectFull: College Choice
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Family Influence
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      – SubjectFull: Time Factors (Learning)
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      – SubjectFull: Student Costs
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      – SubjectFull: North Carolina
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      – TitleFull: 'I'm in a Different Place in Life': A Qualitative Study of Rural Adult Transfer Student Choices
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