| Streszczenie: | The present article explores the role of parental involvement in academic achievement for Costa Rican students of higher education. The research aimed to know the perception that college students have about the academic support they have received from fathers, mothers, and other people during their childhood and adolescence and that allowed them to achieve academic success and eventually, to access higher education. The study is qualitative. During 2019, fourteen successful students from public universities with different socio-economic backgrounds were interviewed. Findings indicate that there are many forms in which parents support their children: instrumental aid, support with academic tasks (parents as teachers), and involvement with the school (parents as support agents for the school). Mothers provided more academic help, and more support was given in elementary than in secondary school. For some students, reading for pleasure was important for their academic development. As barriers to obtaining a college education, students mentioned a lack of knowledge about college admission processes and the paperwork for obtaining scholarships. Interviewed students perceived the school as a refuge, as an escape, and as part of their identity.
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