ABSTRACT
Introduction In this chapter we explore the perceptions and experiences of a small group of young people who have successfully gained admission to an undergraduate course in two pre-1992 universities. In so doing, we intend to open up aspects of ‘choice’ and ‘choice-making’ in order to question the ways in which ‘choosing’ is socially situated and socially constituted. Our point is that selecting a university is as much related to habitus, dispositions to choose, beliefs about value/status (the ‘best’ university) as anything else (Bourdieu and Passeron, 1990). Any policy attempts to widen the participation rates of non-traditional students need to be sensitive to this reality. Through a brief exploration of some key concerns that relate to the process of transition to higher education, we suggest that widening participation is not the whole story. Institutions need to be aware of the dilemmas that can arise once the student has enrolled; the issue is not just one of widening participation but also of supporting and retaining these students. In what follows we also want to consider the ways in which aspects of elitism continue to exercise influence in relation to choosing and participating in higher education.
