Graduate School Decisions: The Impact of Out-of-class Communication on First-generation College Students

<p>First-generation college students possess barriers within academics that may be unique to the population. This thesis seeks to understand how instructors and advisors can use the memorable messages framework to encourage first-generation college students to attend graduate school despite barriers the students may possess. Thirteen first-generation college/graduate students were interviewed regarding their decisions to attend graduate school. Specifically, interviewees were asked if they received memorable messages from an outside source which encouraged them to pursue a master’s degree. A majority of participants stated they had received a particular message from either an instructor or academic advisor. These messages tended to be one of two types: action-oriented or encouraging messages. Implications based on findings are discussed, as well as directions for future research.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Studies and Theatre

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Voges, Kaitlyn

Contributors dc:contributor

• Karla HUnter

• Communication

Licence

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1199

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-2212