The Power of Social Capital for First-Generation College Students

Authors

Inez M. Gonzalez Perezchica, MANA de San DiegoFollow

Abstract

First-generation college students (FGCS) face unique challenges in achieving career success, challenges which stem from limited access to social capital. Social capital refers to the value derived from access to social structures, which serve as resources that enable individuals to pursue and attain their interests (Coleman, 1988). Enhancing mentoring for FGCS requires an understanding of how social capital facilitates success and upward mobility. FGCS face information gaps that can hinder their ability to navigate college bureaucracy, advance their careers, and beyond. To address this information gap, FGCS can seek advisors and mentors, or institutional agents, who can provide critical insights that may not be available from their families. Similarly, peer mentors who effectively build and leverage social capital can model strategies for fostering networks among their peers. This journal article presents findings from a research study commissioned by MANA de San Diego( MANASD), examining how MANASD, through its youth leadership programs, serves as both an institutional agent and a source of social capital for program participants.

Recommended Citation

Gonzalez Perezchica, Inez M. (2025) "The Power of Social Capital for First-Generation College Students," Journal of College Access: Vol. 10: Iss. 3, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jca/vol10/iss3/5