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How Does Class Status Affect QU Culture?

Personally speaking, I think that Class Status affects QU culture in a way that we don't necessarily recognize the majority of the time. As such, there's no clear cut way to determine or communicate it. However, with that being said, I think that it's most noticeable by examining specific groups of people that hang out together or by the types of clothing that people wear. And also by other things that we don't even tend to think about such as: how much you can afford to pay towards a school meal plan or what items and utilities you have available to you and that you can afford to decorate your dorm room with. These may not be the best examples, however, I feel that it gets the point across in regard to the differences in class status that exists not just at Quinnipiac, but at universities in general.

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#1 How does class status affect QU culture?

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#1 How does class status affect QU culture?

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I haven't noticed a serious divide or obvious way that class status affects the QU culture. I am only in class on campus a few times a week and at night, so I don't have a super great grasp on the way the campus and others function within it besides what I have seen for my (pretty small) classes. I have not really seen any disparities between the "haves and have-nots", at least none that I could point out. If I were to think about my time as an undergrad when I lived on my college's campus, I think it could be recognized by what car someone drives, how their dorm is decorated (if at all), or even if they lived on campus. Here at the Grad level, though, that becomes trickier to discern. Some of us still live at home, some on campus, and some have their own places, but again this is not atypical considering we are all at different places in our lives (age, education levels, job experience, etc.) so this may or may not be an area affected by class status, just the typical progression of life. I will say though that I have not experienced any negative attitudes towards differing class statuses, either directed at me or others, so I think QU's Grad School is in a pretty good space concerning tolerance/acceptance/kindness.

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How does class status affect QU culture?

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How does class status affect QU culture?

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I'm not on campus much to have a say in how QU culture is compared to other colleges and societies. I will say that compared to my undergrad school, the atmosphere and students that attend these schools have very different backgrounds and interests. My undergrad school had different priorities than Quinnipiac does. So it's actually relieving to be a part of a community that adds to the campus for the students rather than for personal gain. On a grad school level, I have some limits compared to other grad students. I live on campus because I live 2 and a half hours away and I don't own a car. So while it isn't direct lower status, subcosciously, it feels like I don't fit into the QU culture that most other students are a part of. In both college and the working world, people are judged on by their appearance, the car they drive, the place they live in , whether or not they are married and whether or not they have kids. And it sets unfair expectations for others to achieve that will eventually be contradicted by the opposite argument of why they should/shouldn't do what they are doing. But compared to my undergrad school, I haven't experienced many negatives when it came to acceptance and inclusivity. And during my time as a grad student, I am grateful to have access to the resources that are available to me and that I am part of a community that fosters future professionals in whatever field they choose to study.

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How does class status affect QU/grad school culture?

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How does class status affect QU/grad school culture?

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Based on my long-term grad school status I've noticed patterns that sometimes will give hints to class status, but for the most part my MAT classmates have always been inclusive of one another and it hasn't really made a difference in interactions. Some clues that I have noticed are cars driven, clothes worn, laptop stickers with brands or vacation spots, stories told, or bag choices. These clues don't guarantee a person's status; you never know when someone is a good bargain hunter or fortunate to be treated by a friend or relative. Some people may choose inexpensive lives for simplicity, and give no indication that they "have" things. Another layer of detail that may affect someone's status is whether they are working through school, on loans, or able to pay tuition up front- it's hard to know this unless someone volunteers it and of course scholarships are out there. I feel that grad school at QU (particularly MAT) is different than undergrad because people are too busy taking care of their own lives to worry about what other people have, and are adult enough for it to not matter.

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How does class status affect QU/Grad school culture

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How does class status affect QU/Grad school culture

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As we all continue through this journey of grad school, we get to work together to determine our cultural values when we come to class and go to our internship sites. I give thanks to our awesome professor who helped shape our thinking along the way and lead us to where we are now. I will say that what stands out to me as a part of our culture is all of our openness. We except each other with open arms regardless of all our differences. We truly are such a diverse crew! I always try to touch base with my classmates to make sure they are staying afloat. As a lot of us know this is no easy program and people have dropped out or taken a break for good reason. I want to be there for every classmate to make sure they have someone they can turn to. I want to keep pushing through this journey with all of you, and can't imagine continuing without you guys!

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Class status affects many things and grad school or college in general fits that list. I can't say much for the culture for QU because I don't live on campus or do any extracurriculars. Coming from upper middle class I can say that I have been very fortunate to have a lot of support, but I've still had to do many things on my own like paying my own bills, cooking my own meals, and living an independent life while juggling grad school, interning, and trying trying to be social outside.

I approach most situations with an open mind and attempt to hear the other party out. This works well with interning at an elementary school because is crucial to listen to children, ensure that they are valued, and not ignoring them. It's a learning experience in one way or another and I'm apart of it just like my students.

Comparing it to my undergrad, it's very different. Undergrads I find don't have a firm grasp of what they want to achieve yet but with grad students they're narrowing it down and serious about a career in the field they are studying. My undergrad was in Communications and Photography and that's not exactly my full time job right now.  Once when we figure out what we wanna do with our career's then it's easier to find out who we want to be. Being in this grad program we've all gotten close to one another because we are all experiencing similar struggles and achievements so it's easier to relate and sympathize.

Lastly is the 5 semester MAT. It's a struggle and I can't completely identify with the undergrad MAT but I imagine it's a similar process. It's a challenge of balancing finances, work issues, school assignments, and mental health for a long and intense 5 semester journey. If it were easy then everyone would do it. I've seen many friends struggle with their class status and they feel stuck. Unfortunately college (especially grad school) is a privilege and not everyone can afford it.

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How Does Class Status Affect QU Culture? 

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How Does Class Status Affect QU Culture? 

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In terms of QU Culture at large, it seems like the class status of students is pretty homogenous. In some classes, it seems like the students who share the most in terms of class status with the teacher are the "haves" of that class. I feel like this shows up in communication style; how we talk and what we choose to talk about. I will say that in our cohort, even if we do have class differences, everyone seems really accepting and supportive of one another. I think the same goes for my internship site. I haven't felt a lot of class discrimination, more support than anything.

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How does class status affect QU/Grad school culture when interacting on & off campus? How do you interact

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How does class status affect QU/Grad school culture when interacting on & off campus? How do you interact

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Class status affects many things in life including grad school and where you went for it. I feel QU grad school (this program) is different because it allows more people to have an opportunity at becoming a teacher if they are not finnically well off. When interacting off campus I feel my status really shows because I do work with some wealthy teachers. Coming from lower middle class I feel the divide but i treat everyone with respect and how i would want to be treated. Everyone has been really nice to me in my internship school.

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How does class status affect QU/Grad School culture when interacting on and off campus? - Jared Chase

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How does class status affect QU/Grad School culture when interacting on and off campus? - Jared Chase

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I think that at a school like Quinnipiac, there can be a divide between students based off of class status. In the parking lots on campus, there are BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and Jaguars. However, there are also minivans, rust boxes, and old cars. This alone is a visual representation of just how broad the spectrum is when it comes to class status. Furthermore, some students are able to pay for the tuition all on their own, while other students are only there because they have worked their butts off to earn a scholarship or grant. When it comes to social life, students that come from upper class families usually have the money to spend many nights out at the clubs and bars, even renting out tables and getting bottle service. My own experience was not like this simply because I could not afford it. When it comes to the way that people interact with each other, there can be a sense of arrogance from some students that seem to come from a life of ease. I believe that I have lived a life free of major obstacles, but I am in awe of the money that I see some students have. Students seem to stick to cliques and students that are like them, however the school provides valuable opportunities to interact with people that are different from you through varsity, intramural and club sports.

As for this graduate program and my internship, everybody is very open and respectful to each other. Class status plays little to no role at all in our everyday proceedings and I think this makes the program very enjoyable and valuable. We learn from each other and grow as a group. If there were one way that I could note how class status may materialize would be the ease at which some students have to get to class, while this is more of an obstacle for others based off of their living situations. On a larger level, graduate school is not an affordable or realistic option for everyone. This said, I feel that we are a team in this together.

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How does class status affect QU/Grad school culture when interacting on & off campus? CJ Brown

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How does class status affect QU/Grad school culture when interacting on & off campus? CJ Brown

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I would say it is a little tough for me because not having lived on campus and just doing the graduate problem I never really got to experience it. Also having a child who after every class I have to go home and take care of is another factor. Having the classmates I have and the rappore that we have developed is very special. We are able to depend on each whenever we might have an issue in our internship sites and we need advice. Going through the classes I have already been through I have not seen much difference in class status. It seems to me that everyone puts thats aside and helps each other out anyway that they can.

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How does Class Status affect QU culture? -Sam Valdez

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How does Class Status affect QU culture? -Sam Valdez

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Although my time at QU has been limited to a semester and a half, I've had a complex fabric of social experiences weaved for me throughout this short time. I graduated from UCONN about 5 years ago, and there's a night-and-day difference between the socialization of classrooms in  the undergrad of a gigantic state-owned public school in a crowded liberal arts major, and in our small education program here at QU. In my undergraduate experience, the class differences were apparent by who was able to participate in certain expensive clubs, live in the nicer off-campus apartments, drive nice cars, and it was all very stratified. Students more or less interacted in 'pods' or 'cliques' according to social status, economic status, or a common alliance to a club or Greek organization.

In my brief experience so far at Quinnipiac, I've been exposed to a small, but impactful group of classmates who I've come to see as sort of professional colleagues, and friends as well. Class differences can be apparent, certainly, in our ability or inability to meet certain demands of the program that are affected greatly by our financial situation (for example, the ability to pay a semester's tuition upfront, access to / ability to maintain use of a personal vehicle, clothing choices). Within the context of the school of education, I feel a sense that we're all willing to relate with, if not able to directly understand, one another's difficulties regardless of class differences.

In my experience at internship, I've been placed at North Haven, which I recognize  as a tremendously well-resourced public school. I noticed that, when participating in our seminar discourse about placements, my classmates' vocalized worries about their placements and my own worries have different notes. They share the same theme, generally, of wanting the best for our student body and wanting to get the best learning experience as an intern. Still, a part of me feels guilt every time I opt to participate in discussion, because my chief complaint with NHHS revolves around feeling unnecessary in my internship role, as my school has much more help than other schools. Sometimes I'm coming in hot from my school day and I appreciate the opportunity to vent the frustrations that arise in this environment, but a part of me still feels it's hollow or "wrong" to complain about anxieties revolving around boredom and lack of SEL. Hearing others' perspectives, I can see that some of my classmates are in highly difficult placements where they're responsible for picking up more of the pieces of economically struggling schools. I appreciate the diversity of our cohort because it gives me the opportunity for the perspective of the full spectrum of the economic difficulties placed upon the school system by COVID.

Sorry this was long btw