“It Was Kind of a Dream Come True”: Undocumented College Students’ Testimonios of Cultural Wealth in the College Choice Process

Abstract

Using community cultural wealth as a theoretical framework, this qualitative study examined the college choice process of eight undocumented Mexican college graduates. Through interviews, participants shared their testimonios revealing the development of their college aspirations and challenges encountered related to their undocumented status. They described the processes, resources, and networks they utilized to overcome obstacles and access a research university. Recommendations for practice and future research are offered.