Master Narrative of College Access Belies Reality for Today’s Students

Authors

Jonathan S. Lewis, uAspireFollow
René A. Hernandez, Virginia TechFollow

Abstract

Master and alternative narratives offer a useful framework through which to consider contemporary issues in college access. Implicit and ubiquitous, the master narrative of a linear progression from high school through a residential college toward a fulfilling career has long been dominant. Meanwhile, alternative narratives of fluid, dynamic, alternate pathways are ascendant, having received a boost from the Covid-19 pandemic and the stubborn lack of affordable postsecondary options. Observing a decline in a shared cultural narrative about college, the authors recommend that advisors help students to sort through possible storylines and then write their own.

Recommended Citation

Lewis, Jonathan S. and Hernandez, René A. (2024) "Master Narrative of College Access Belies Reality for Today’s Students," Journal of College Access: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jca/vol9/iss1/6