Sociological Approach

Hossler and Bontrager (2015) state that the sociological approach focuses on the early stages of one's college journey and "emphasizes the influences of social and cultural capital" (p. 51). Thus, this theory highlights one's social context, such as their social class, community, and high school, as well as parental involvement and expectations.

Throughout my first essay, my environment was a strong predisposition that contributed toward my expectation of attending college. Due to my parents' middle-class status, their cultural and social capital garnered them certain knowledge sets. My mother knew how to research for the best school districts and suburbs using the internet, as well as employ her social network of coworkers, college friends,

They placed a great deal of emphasis on getting good grades in order to attend college. In addition to my immediate family, my extended family continuously asked where I was attending college, if I needed information on schools they attended, or how they could help in my search. With a plethora of expectations, resources, and social networks, my drive towards higher education was inevitable.

Overall, the sociological approach explains how numerous social factors contributed to my habitus, which influenced my predispositions, search, and college choice. When analyzing my college journey, I realize how I felt "entitled to a particular kind of collegiate education based on [my] family's […] class status" (Sacks, 2007, p. 32). Thus, the sociological approach illuminates how social contexts in my life made me feel entitled to a certain educational path.

Economic

They would rationalize that a college degree was an invaluable and necessary document within our modern world. In addition, my parents were experts at strategizing finances. We decided to take out smart loans for my college education, which allowed my parents to help finance my interest while I was still in school.

Overall, the economic approach is important in explaining my search process. Although I cannot consciously remember my parents performing a cost-benefit analysis, my college journey was set in motion from the moment my parents moved. Throughout my life, college was always seen as feasible in my mind due to the fact that my parents had the means to navigate financial aid, loans, and help me pay for my bachelor's degree.