Research Blog #1

I am considering the topic of pathways in college, and how greatly they can affect you're future outcome. I was inspired by the story of Emma and Taylor in the Armstrong/Hamilton piece that we had read. I was surprised at how differently the two girls ended up, with both of them starting at the same place. Many factors went in as to why they either succeeded or failed. I am interested in looking into the reasons why a student will succeed or fail, and what pathway they chose and why. There were three pathways mentioned, the party pathway, the professional pathway, and mobility pathway. Other aspects go into this as well, such as parental involvement, class, status, and background. These can greatly influence the pathways. I am especially interested in the party pathway, and why some fail when choosing this, and why others can still succeed even with partying on a regular basis. I would tend to think that drinking and a involved social life would distract a student from their studies, but there were cases in the reading that proved opposite. Ultimately, I would like to explore the pathways, especially the party pathway, and how the choices made affect the outcome after graduation.