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Name: Kelsey King

Major: CSRE

Thesis Title: Ways of Being White: Examining White Identity Formation and Social and Academic Integration of Low-Income White Students at Elite Universities

Thesis Abstract

Low--income white students are the most underrepresented group on elite college campuses. As a result, little has been written about their experiences at elite colleges, as white students at these schools are often viewed as a monolithic group. In--depth interviews were conducted with 12 low--income white students at some of the most selective universities in America. As this research shows, low--income white students believe that their experiences are very different than their classmates, and thus engage in a unique process of identity formation to construct a separate identity. I argue that this reasserted identity is not reliant on just their class background or their racial background, but instead on the intersection of the two. In regards to social and academic integration, most students reported that they felt integrated in both realms. However they encountered difficulties during this process of integration as a result of their class background. These difficulties are similar to the difficulties faced by other low--income students as well, showing the commonalities in the low--income experience, regardless of race.

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