“Why Are You Going to Community College?” College-Conocimiento and Latinx Transfer Students’ Two-Year College Decisions

Emerging scholarship has centered the college decisions of community college students. This study extends college choice literature by examining the testimonios from 25 traditional college-age Latinx students in California who enrolled in community college with the goal of transferring. The findings highlight how information about community college is difficult to access as well as how students felt stigmatized by others for choosing the community college pathway. Yet, despite these challenges, once enrolled in community college, students developed pride and felt empowered about their decision. Implications for research and practice are provided.