Choices of degree or degrees of choice? Class, 'race' and the higher education choice process

This paper draws on data from an on-going ESRC project on choice of higher education. It focuses primarily on the experiences of non-traditional appli cants to higher education. Although these students are not typical of the e ntire university entry cohort, their narratives raise important issues in r elation to race, class and higher education choice processes. These 'succes s stories' reveal important causes for concern as well as reasons for celeb ration. In particular, their experiences of the choice process are qualitat ively different from those of their more privileged middle-class counterpar ts, highlighting key class and racial differences and inequalities.