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Choices of Degree or Degrees of Choice? Class, ‘Race’ and the Higher Education Choice Process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2001

Diane Reay ,
Jacqueline Davies ,
Miriam David  and
Stephen J Ball
Diane Reay
Affiliation:
School of Social Science and Public Policy, King's College London, Cornwall House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8WA, UK
Jacqueline Davies
Affiliation:
St Bartholomew School of Nursing & Midwifery, City University, London, UK
Miriam David
Affiliation:
Dept. of Education, Keele University, Keele, UK
Stephen J Ball
Affiliation:
Inst. of Education, King's College London, London, UK
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Abstract

This paper draws on data from an on-going ESRC project on choice of higher education. It focuses primarily on the experiences of non-traditional applicants to higher education. Although these students are not typical of the entire university entry cohort, their narratives raise important issues in relation to race, class and higher education choice processes. These ‘success stories’ reveal important causes for concern as well as reasons for celebration. In particular, their experiences of the choice process are qualitatively different from those of their more privileged middle-class counterparts, highlighting key class and racial differences and inequalities.

Keywords

choiceethnicityhigher educationsocial class
Type
Original Articles
Information
Sociology , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , November 2001 , pp. 855 - 874
Copyright
© 2001 BSA Publications Limited

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