Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention

“Parties Happen a Lot Less Than What the Movies Say They Do:” Expectancy Violations of First-Generation College Students

Stephanie Dailey

Texas State University

Kristen Farris

Jorlanditha Austin

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Abstract

Scholars have explored first-generation college students’ (FGCS) experiences, but less is known about how FGCS academic and social expectations might be violated during the transition to college. The current study drew upon organizational socialization literature and expectancy violation theory to explore FGCS experiences from a mixed-methods perspective.    Survey responses from FGCS during their first semester showed that undergraduates experience social expectations of attending parties, making friends, and difficulty building relationships. Most social expectations were negatively violated. FGCS also shared academic expectations – being challenged and experiencing stress – which were positively violated and met during students’ first semesters. FGCS who experienced negative violations of their expectations reported decreased academic adjustment to college and engagement in comparison to students with positive violations and met expectations, respectively. In addition to identifying unmet expectations and their outcomes, this study contributes to scholars’ conceptualization of organizational socialization by adopting expectancy violation theory as a theoretical frame.