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Cultivating Familiarity: Social Class and Help-Seeking in Academic Advising

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Title: Cultivating Familiarity: Social Class and Help-Seeking in Academic Advising
Language: English
Authors: Junhow Wei (ORCID 0009-0008-6751-9102)
Source: Sociology of Education. 2026 99(2):99-116.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Social Class, Help Seeking, Academic Advising, College Students, Middle Class, Working Class, Familiarity
DOI: 10.1177/00380407251391756
ISSN: 0038-0407
1939-8573
Abstract: Drawing on interview and observational data of college students and academic advisers at one research-intensive, public university, this article describes similarities and differences in how students from different social class backgrounds engage with academic advisers. Both middle-class and working-class students were comfortable seeking help to resolve immediate questions and concerns. Advisers' efforts at establishing rapport and reaching out to students contributed to this parity. However, only middle-class students proactively cultivated their advisers' familiarity to ensure their advisers would remember them and provide more personalized guidance in the future. Advisers viewed middle-class students who cultivated familiarity in a positive light. Cultivating familiarity also allowed middle-class students to have rich advising conversations despite having no pressing issues to address. This analysis introduces cultivating familiarity as a mechanism through which middle-class students may secure advantages, even in contexts where both middle- and working-class students feel comfortable seeking help.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1501976
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Cultivating Familiarity: Social Class and Help-Seeking in Academic Advising
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Junhow+Wei%22">Junhow Wei</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6751-9102">0009-0008-6751-9102</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Sociology+of+Education%22"><i>Sociology of Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 99(2):99-116.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Class%22">Social Class</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Help+Seeking%22">Help Seeking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Advising%22">Academic Advising</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+Class%22">Middle Class</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Working+Class%22">Working Class</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Familiarity%22">Familiarity</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/00380407251391756
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  Data: Drawing on interview and observational data of college students and academic advisers at one research-intensive, public university, this article describes similarities and differences in how students from different social class backgrounds engage with academic advisers. Both middle-class and working-class students were comfortable seeking help to resolve immediate questions and concerns. Advisers' efforts at establishing rapport and reaching out to students contributed to this parity. However, only middle-class students proactively cultivated their advisers' familiarity to ensure their advisers would remember them and provide more personalized guidance in the future. Advisers viewed middle-class students who cultivated familiarity in a positive light. Cultivating familiarity also allowed middle-class students to have rich advising conversations despite having no pressing issues to address. This analysis introduces cultivating familiarity as a mechanism through which middle-class students may secure advantages, even in contexts where both middle- and working-class students feel comfortable seeking help.
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      – SubjectFull: Academic Advising
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