ABSTRACT
Transitioning from high school to college involves simultaneous social, emotional, and academic adjustments for many adolescents. Moving into higher education is stressful for students who are the first in their families to attend college and whose families are economically disadvantaged. According to social capital theory, networks of relationships can aid students in managing an otherwise unfamiliar college environment by providing students with valuable information, guidance, and emotional support. The college careers of low Socio Economic Status (SES), first-generation college students are most often initiated in community colleges. First-generation students involvement with their community college social networks has strong positive effects on critical thinking and educational degree plans. Analysis of race relations and status competition among poor and working-class residents found that very low SES whites were labeled white trash endured stigma and marginalization from both whites and blacks due to their lack of power usually associated with whiteness.
