College Experience At Predominantly White University: A Case Study

In todays’ world obtaining a college degree is ideal and expected. Having a degree can have a huge effect on an individual’s life outcomes. In order to receive this degree there are many challenging factors that one has to overcome. Being black and in higher education these challenges can stack up. Whether being able to overcome racism and the lack of support at a Predominantly White Institute (PWI) can largely affect ones willingness to complete college. The 2011 President’s Agenda and The African American Community stated that 24 percent of low income African Americans students who enroll in college graduate within six years. Black students have an elevated risk at depression due to factors such as; stress, sleep denervation, racism, and lack of academic and social support. One’s racial identity and how they use this to function in life can be a sole determination of success on a college campus. How an individual interacts with different races and the psychological status of these students can also play a role. …show more content…
This study will seek to find how factors such as; Racial identity, Social Capital, and Psychological adjustment help shape black students experiences on a college campus. In previous research racial identity has been defined as a closeness with others who share similar ideas, feelings, and thoughts (Broman et al. p. 148). Demo and Hughes (1990) talked about the term Black Identity and how in Americans society you are expected to take on a black racial status. In another study black identity was defined as a set of attitudes held by blacks and how they see themselves and others as black, and how they perceive other raceshow an individual perceives them self as that particular race (Worrell et.