The Impact of Racial Identity on the Educational Experiences of Multiracial, College Undergraduates

Abstract

While the impact of racial identity on students' educational experiences has been studied for years, there has been little such research focused on multiracial individuals. The purpose of this study is to explore how racial identity has shaped the educational experiences of multiracial undergraduates, particularly in their transition to college. Transitioning into college from high school, which often requires entering a very different social and educational environment, can be life changing for students, and racial identity can play a role in how students interact and identify with other students as well as teachers. An interview based qualitative methodology was used to explore the educational experiences of four multiracial undergraduate students. Individual face-to-face interviews were used to learn about the four participants' experiences. Focusing on multiracial students, who are often left out of the discussion when talking about the impact racial identity has on various educational experiences, will contribute to research on the relationship between racial identity and education. Study findings showed that the participants experienced few, if any, negative effects on their educational experiences, due to their racial identity or how others perceived them, racially. Overall, participants felt that being multiracial was an advantage in terms of connecting with a diverse group of peers in school settings.