1. My life, my style and my culture College students from Hispanic and Caucasian families differ: How are the differences useful in understanding how families from each culture perform certain basic functions? Margarita Avila

2. Hypothesis The researcher hypothesized that the implications of this study are that Caucasian and Hispanic college students are similar with regard to their concepts of fairness and unfairness between families. Education is the key to individual opportunity, the strength of economy, and the vitality of family in Caucasian and Hispanic college students.

3. HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR EDUCATION TO YOU?

4. Introduction This study explored the manner insight into the relationships between culture, lifestyle, and college education.

5. Literature Review This study focused on family cohesion in relation to academic performance between African Americans and Caucasian college students. Results suggested that families have different impacts on academic outcomes across ethnic groups (Walker, 2002).

6. Literature Review Ethnic, racial, and multiracial diversity in the population is reflected in higher education. Data indicate that racial/ethnic minority students are graduating at a lower rate than White students, but the data also show that they are making educational gains (Racial/ethnic Diversity in the United States and Psychology, 2002)

7. Literature Review Although there is no doubt variability within each culture, in many Asian cultures, parents place a strong emphasis on doing well in college and exert a great deal of social pressure on their children to succeed. Parents often make personal sacrifices of time, money and others resources so that their child can go to college. The social status of the family is enhanced when a family member gains admission to a prestigious college. In contrast, in the United States, pursuing a college education is often more of an individual decision. Parents may place less social pressure on high school students to attend college and may not provide financial support if their child chooses to pursue a college education (Karau, Komarraju &Ramayah, 2007).

8. Literature Review Nearly nine in 10 Hispanics say it is "necessary" to get a college education to get ahead in life — more than any other ethnic or racial group in the USA. The findings, reported in a survey released today by the Pew Hispanic Center, suggest several reasons for the divide between aspirations and reality, including language barriers, parents' abilities to play an active role in education and students' desires to help support their families (Greg Toppo, 2009)

9. Literature Review In the journal, Family Involvement Partnership for Learning Richard W. Riley (2005) U.S. Secretary of Education asserts that: "The American family is the rock on which a solid education can be built. I have seen examples all over this nation where two-parent families, single parents, stepparents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are providing strong families support for their children to learn. If families teach the love of learning, it can make all the difference in the world to their children."

10. Methods: Participants 30 students enrolled at a four-year private Midwestern liberal arts college were recruited to participate in the survey. There were 15 Caucasian: 6 males and 9 females. As well as 15 Hispanic: 5 male and 10 female. Out of the respondents together Caucasian and Hispanic students 37% were freshmen, 20% sophomores, 20% juniors, 20% seniors and 3% Super Senior. Therefore, there were representatives for lower and upper classmen in the sample.

11. Methods: Materials & Procedures An exploratory questionnaire was used to collect information. Questions that consists of 25 open and closed-ended questions. Questions were focused on college education, the present and future impact on students families. The researcher's completed the Hispanic surveys with students outside Wisconsin Lutheran College. Participants were assigned to the same classroom. The survey took 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Participants were asked not put their names on the surveys for the purpose of anonymity.

12. Results Differences between Caucasian and Hispanic college students working and going to school. To compare the differences between an Caucasian and Hispanic mother in the aspect of education.

13. Results To understand the communication between students and parents, How often do you talk to your parents? CaucasianHispanic 60% Often55% Often 25% Sometimes 25% Sometimes 10% Almost Never5% Almost Never 5% Almost Always 15% Almost Always Who is the first person you will call if you are in a serious car accident? Together both Caucasian and Hispanic students 90% will call their parents.

14. Results

15. Results Why Caucasian and Hispanic students are attending to college, List 2 reasons why you are in college? The range in the Caucasian students was for a job, and Hispanic students said for a better future. Caucasian and Hispanic have different culture, but there is something in common, please list three cultural activities such as festivals and other social gatherings unique to your ethnic group? The most frequently was Christmas in both ethnicities. Quinceañeras are a unique festival of the Hispanic culture

16. Discussion Caucasian and Hispanic have certain holidays and celebrations within their own culture and families. The researcher was also concerned with the extent to which students from both ethnicities family is an important support will the student is in college. College education is the path for a bright future in both cultures.

17. Limitations There were limitations to this research: ◦ Radio of male and female were unequal. ◦ The results could be much stronger if all the students were attending to the same college.

18. Directions for future Study Future research would benefit from a less homogenous sample in general, particularly regarding age, family values and socioeconomic status. Also, depth explanations in the relationship between parents and students in college atmosphere.