‘Everything was going to be really easy for me’: elite schooling, old boys, and transitions to university

This paper reflects on the recounts of a group ‘old boys’ about their transition from elite schools to university. Analysis semi-structured interview data reveals that this was not always straightforward. Although educational background has traditionally determined access to, and progress through, university, details challenges confronted old boys as they negotiated landscape did align with positionality had assumed in schooling. Defining ‘bubble bursting’ moment, participants relay how negotiations provoked reflexive accounting what keep reject formation undergraduate identities. The discourses surround choices made by school students indicate tightly bound notions achievement academic excellence define expectations concomitant senses Self. Exposure larger, more diverse student population, well changed social strata, resulted questioning environment preparation it provided. explores currently under-theorised aspect literature detail emotions feelings alumni experience frames