Facing the Closed Door

Abstract

Lower division preparation for the university has been an important mission of community colleges since their inception, creating an essential pathway to baccalaureate degree attainment for many students who may not have access to higher education. The transfer pathway is complex and often difficult for students to navigate. This study examined the decisions students make after being denied transfer admission to a public university and the extent to which the difficulty with transfer is rooted in insufficient capacity to meet the growing demand for postsecondary education at many public universities in California.