Rural students in China’s elite universities: Understanding their academic and social experiences

Abstract

Gaining admission to universities is an important step toward upward social mobility for rural students. Adjusting to higher education institutions constitutes the next crucial one. There is evidence in China that rural students experience obstacles to their academic success. This is particularly the case when they enter the most elite universities. Recent policies introduced by Chinese government have increased the number of rural freshmen in China’s key universities. Yet, current literature seldom looks at how rural students navigate the elite academic milieu and how this is associated with their social backgrounds. The investigators have conducted preliminary research on rural students in four elite universities, which indicated that obstacles grow as social activities on campus become more important. The research provides data to analyze how rural students navigate their university environment. The research is grounded in Tinto’s model of social integration in universities, with insights from Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory. The findings of the study contribute to the literature on the relationship between education and social equity, as well as provide useful knowledge for university counselors to help rural students become better adjusted and integrated into the university environment.