Amplified Advantage: Going to a "Good" College in an Era of Inequality

Amplified Advantage explores the value and impact of small liberal arts colleges, using Bourdieus theory of class to demonstrate how inequalities are met, resisted, and reproduced across generations. It shows how class affects the college experience, from choosing a major to faculty interaction and participation in the extra-curriculum. The book also highlights the differential burden of debt on graduates and the impact of varied parental support after graduation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

Amplified Advantage delves into the significance and effects of modern small liberal arts colleges by conducting a comprehensive analysis of a recent cohort of students attending them. The book showcases how these institutions occasionally achieve and occasionally fall short in ensuring equal opportunities for all their students. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. While primarily focusing on the life and learning experiences at these colleges in the United States today, scholars will also find substantial theoretical insights underlying the account. The book utilizes the context of small liberal arts colleges to explore the workings of class, deviating from other works that primarily focus on the disparities among certain students. Amplified Advantage emphasizes how the experiences and expectations associated with class shape the strategies of all students, particularly in the face of growing inequality. The book draws upon Bourdieu's theory of class, particularly his concepts of capital operating within a field and habitus as a way of understanding agents' structured yet generative choices. By employing these theoretical frameworks, Amplified Advantage demonstrates how inequalities are perpetuated, resisted, and ultimately reproduced across generations.

Chapter by chapter, the book unfolds the diverse ways in which class continues to shape the college experience, encompassing aspects such as major selection, frequency of faculty interaction, and participation in extracurricular activities. The final chapters shed light on the differing burdens of debt on graduates and the impact of varying parental support after graduation. Amplified Advantage contributes to our understanding of how class operates, the role of parents and families in social reproduction, and the potential strategies employed by colleges and universities to promote or mitigate inequalities.

Weight: 485g
Dimension: 231 x 153 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781498589673