Does Your University Support First-Generation College Students?

Nationally, of the 7.3 million undergraduates attending four-year public and private colleges and universities, about 20 percent are first-generation students. About 50 percent of all first-generation college students in the U.S. are low-income. These students are also more likely to be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group.

Everyone loves the story of a disadvantaged kid getting a full ride to college, maybe because people see money as the greatest barrier to higher education. But often that’s not true.

Students whose parents didn’t go to college face several unique challenges

First-generation college students are less likely to have had access to the type of challenging high school classes that increase the chance of success in college and less likely to have confidence in their academic abilities. There’s also the culture of college, which many students don’t realize is different from high school. These challenges are magnified when a student is the first in their family to go to college.

Even when students manage to pull together scholarships, loans or gifts from relatives or churches, once they actually get into college, they typically find they have a whole new set of unanticipated barriers: academic, social and cultural, as well as their own internal self-doubt.

Nearly one-third of students entering two- or four-year colleges in the United States each year are first-generation. These students are also more likely to be minorities, and they are far less likely to graduate: In six years, 40 percent of first-generation students will have earned a bachelor’s or associate’s degree or a certificate, vs. 55 percent of their peers whose parents attended college.

It’s not just the students who have to adjust to college; it’s a challenge for their families, too. For almost 20 percent of first-generation, low-income students, English is not the first language. These students are often needed at home, simply to translate. Sometimes they feel guilty because, they work to help take care of the family and now that they have a high school diploma, they should be able to contribute even more to help support the family or the guilt of going away to college and that support they were providing will now be gone. If it's not financial, it is almost always by taking care of younger siblings or other family members like grandparents or the other parent in the home.

Some students feel the need to prove they now don't think they are better than other family members that didn't attend college.

[Guilt is one of the biggest struggles for first-generation college students]

Even parents who are supportive of their children’s education may not know that the rules for college and high school are very different.

During my first break for Christmas, I had to adamantly share with my mother that my school dorms were closing and I needed to come home. I had to explain to my mother, who insisted that there is 'no way they just kick everyone out of the dorm', that I still lived with her and simply going away to college did not mean that I was no longer ever going to need to come back to stay with her.

It's funny she (my mother) said, "What happens to the kids that have no place to go?", I replied, "I don't know because I have a place to go so stop being ridiculous I'll be home in a few days."

It was clear in that moment it was time for me to officially 'move out'-I didn't feel wanted at the place I previously called home anyway. This is all too familiar for many first-generation students for various reasons.

What colleges can do

Recruiting a greater number of first generation college students is a recent trend among colleges and universities, retaining them needs to be of equal importance. Many colleges allow first-generation students the opportunity to come to campus a week early and meet other students that are also first-generation students, learn about resources, and get acquainted before school begins.

First-generation student mentorship programs can be exceedingly helpful to give 2nd, or 3rd year 'first-generation' students the opportunity to help freshmen, first-generation students.

As a first generation college student, you don't know what you don't know.

Having someone that has been there could not only provide a support to the incoming first-generation students but give them someone that understands what it was like to have no idea what they have gotten themselves into.

How can parents help

Check with the school your child is planning to attend or researching to see what resources are available to first-generation colleges students. Do they close the dorms during breaks? And see what happens if your child falls behind in their courses. Is the school willing to help them get caught up, will they get a second chance, or will they be kicked out?

Don't leave anything to chance, talk to your friends and family that have attended college and see if you can set a few lunch dates with those people for your child to also ask their own questions, especially if you know anyone that has attended the same school your child plans to attend.

Conclusion

Going away to college is an exciting time for students and parents, but finishing is the goal. There are so many ways first-generation students struggle when they get to college. Any serious plan to help these smart, thoughtful young people who have already overcome so many obstacles to get to college must include strategies to address the social, emotional and cultural aspects of their lives.

For more information about the resources, you should look for a University to provide your first-generation college student click here.