Department
Management, Entrepreneurship, and Human Resource Management
Document Type
Poster
Abstract
Social media has reshaped how students explore and choose colleges, becoming a central source of information, connection, and influence. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube now allow students to engage with institutions, explore programs, and experience campus life virtually. This shift is especially important for first-generation college students, who often rely on digital spaces for guidance due to limited access to traditional support systems. Building on prior qualitative findings, this study tests a quantitative model examining how social media engagement, perceived credibility of online information, and institutional fit influence decision confidence. Using survey data from first-generation students, the study explores how these factors shape how confident students feel about their college choices. While social media offers access and connection, it can also introduce challenges such as misinformation and uncertainty. This study provides insights to help institutions design more authentic, supportive, and equitable recruitment strategies for first-generation students.
Publication Date
Spring 4-9-2026
Recommended Citation
Remember to check citations for accuracy before including them in your work.
Hjermstad, Rosymar, "Social Media's Influence on First-Generation College Decisions: A Quantitative Study on Its Effects on College Selection, Part II - Research Proposal" (2026). Student Scholarship. 51.
https://metroworks.metrostate.edu/student-scholarship/51
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Comments
Spring 2026: Student Research Conference