With increasing numbers of underprepared students enrolling in community colleges, it becomes important to recognize what might contribute to their academic success. The purpose of this study was to explore what in the community college students' experience, especially those student facing risk factors, has contributed to their success. Much of the literature focuses on attrition and explores reasons for departure; but what about students who persist, especially those students who persist in spite of what we may predict about their success or what the students expect from themselves? This study explores successful adult learners, how they "beat the odds" and are excelling academically.This study looked at students at one community college who arrive underprepared based on their incoming placement test and yet several semesters later, they have earned grade point averages of 3.50 or higher in their college level courses. The students completed a "Grit Inventory" (Duckworth, 2007), an alternative version of the Local Model of Student Success (Padilla, 2009) and discussed what knowledge, skills and abilities they used to overcome barriers they encountered. This study also explored how the constructs of motivation, expectancy, and mindset, impact underprepared community college students.
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