A Qualitative Look at Low-Income College Students Over the Summer Break.

This paper aims to address the broader issue of retention of low-income students in college. Research shows that the summer between the first and second years of undergraduate studies is crucial because students contemplate whether or not they will return to college the following academic year. Yet, little is known about this period. This is primarily because students often leave campus for the summer and so little data is collected about their activities. For this study, I used qualitative methods to collect data that illustrates students' summer experiences. Participants of the study had been part of a larger study beginning at the start of their spring semester. This paper addresses two critical questions regarding low-income students during their summer breaks: Where do they go? And, what do they do? Findings point to low-income students often not having stable or secured living situations over the summer, and aiming to work as many hours as possible to earn and save money, often in order to afford their summer living arrangements and their upcoming expenses related to attending college. The paper concludes with some implications for practitioners and offers ways for colleges to help support these students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]