Improving secondary to post-secondary school transitions : social, cultural, and resource capital constructs

Pursuing higher education after high school is a common practice in the United States, and for many individuals this process is expected. However, students in historically underrepresented communities still have a substantially harder time transitioning from high school to college, and there are currently an increasingly broad range and scope of college preparation programs that address this issue. This report examines how social and cultural capital frameworks highlight and explore the different aspects of a student’s life that can affect whether he/she is able to access college-related resources. Using these general constructs, this report attempts to illuminate elements that are currently missing in existing programs, and highlight current successful transition programs.