<p>I am currently part of a research team looking at academic and social achievement in 1st generation college students (students who are the first in their family to go to college) with the intent of writing a short guidebook for such students and their families. The book would cover a variety of ways to help these students and their families prepare for, adjust to, and persist through college.</p>
<p>I am wondering if any of you are 1st generation students and have any ideas or experiences that you think would be pertinent to other 1st generation students. If you do not feel comfortable revealing that you are 1st generation here on the forum, please feel free to send me a PM.</p>
<p>Here's what we have so far as a purpose statement (in the works):
[quote]
To increase research in this area and provide a free/low cost guide that will empower students by giving them tips for college and help parents understand what their kids are going through as well as empower parents to support the students. This should result in students understanding their strengths and improving students' academic success and self-efficacy as well as university/college retention rates for first generation college students.
<p>I'm a first generation student! Honestly, in the summer before senior year, I was TERRIFIED of the college application process. Even though my school was college prep, I thought I would practically die from the stress of college essays, forms to fill out and send, remembering deadlines, choosing which colleges to apply to, asking for teacher recs, etc etc etc. But luckily, I joined this free college advising program especially geared towards first generation/low income students. This program was practically a life saver for me--they helped me with EVERYTHING from narrowing down my college list to paying for the SAT/college app fees to coordinating college visits to helping fill out the FAFSA. Not knowing what to do before was really scary, especially because my parents didn't really know much about the college application process, so thankfully, programs like the one I joined existed! :D</p>
<p>I'm glad you two have been successful so far!</p>
<p>Is there anything you have learned that you think would have been helpful to have known earlier or anything you think 1st generation students have to offer that other students don't? (e.g., better work ethic, diversity in their experiences, etc.)</p>
<p>I'm one too. My mom basically left me to do everything since she had no idea what was going on. My high school counselor helped me out ALOT though-- telling me about scholarships, when to take the ACT/SAT, etc. She really got me through the whole process.</p>
<p>Dad was a high school grad, mom didn't get her high school diploma. </p>
<p>Me, went to community college and worked full-time for a year and transferred. Now I'm in my second year at a private university. I wouldn't have chosen a different path for anything.</p>
<p>I'm going to be a first-gen college student when I start school this fall, my mother being a high school drop out. </p>
<p>The biggest thing that I found to be really difficult was just getting through the process with parents that really had no idea about applying to and paying for college, and it was really frustrating come time for FAFSA because I was pretty much entirely on my own with that, as my previously very helpful GC didn't know enough about it to really help me.</p>
<p>The biggest things that got me through the process were my aunt and older brother, as well as my overall excellent guidance staff.</p>
<p>I think coming from a relatively unfortunate financial situation and dreaming my entire life of going to a good college from freshman year, which only one other person in my family has ever done, have all made me work harder. As I sit pretty in my Ithaca College hoodie with a hefty sum of financial aid on the horizon for the coming years, I have to admit I'm feeling pretty good about the whole process right now, even if it was really difficult.</p>
<p>I'm a 1st gen college student and like tomatoking said, I did everything on my own for the college process.</p>
<p>My parents didn't know anything and my guidance counselor didn't know what she was doing so I did research on my own. Thank God for this site. Although I found it a little late, it still helped me tremendously.</p>
<p>I do wish I knew all this during sophomore year of high school rather than senior year. but what can you do? Whats done is done.</p>
<p>The financial aid thing nearly killed me. I think I basically did my parent's taxes.</p>
<p>I'm a first year college student and I didn't really have any difficulties applying to college or adjusting to it. The internet kind of took care of any questions I had</p>