It is not unusual for first-generation students to face a number of obstacles that can discourage them from pursuing their college dreams. And it can be a challenging task to counsel and encourage these children and their families to overcome what may be formidable financial, social, and psychological hurdles so that the children can attain a college education.
The list below describes actionable, practical ways by which you can encourage your first-generation students to go to college.
- Involve the Families
Many first-generation students’ families view their children’s decision to go to college as a break from their working class status or as financially out of reach. Some feel that higher education is not really needed for their children -perhaps because there’s a family trade or business. Or maybe they are intimidated by college-educated people and feel their children may not be academically qualified for a post-secondary education, so they want to “protect” them from failing.
It’s best to identify these students early so you can facilitate counseling sessions for their families and start building a relationship with them. Encouraging them to ask questions and interact with other families having college-bound students can help remove their misconceptions about college life. Complex applications for multiple schools, plus standardized testing and keeping up grades, add up to a major commitment, and their children will need all their support to accomplish all this. Talking to them about their financial aid options and helping them fill out the related paperwork will be most helpful. You can explain the importance of internship opportunities for students looking to build their professional network. For inspiring these families, you can share our blog “How Parents of First-Generation Students can Encourage Their Children to Go to College” with them.
- Connect Education to Better Pay and Career
Since many first-generation students have experienced financial hardships, explaining that attaining a college education can open a world of well-paying opportunities otherwise inaccessible to them can help to spark their enthusiasm and quell their financial fears. Sharing inspiring stories of successful first-generation students and connecting them to college students and graduates from similar backgrounds can give them hope and direction. Other effective activities are career day programs and speakers, internship programs (preferably paid), and professional networking opportunities. You can also encourage your students to visit National College Fairs that are free and open to the public. Here, students can meet admission representatives from colleges nationwide.
- Provide Financial Aid Guidance
Promises of a high salary later can seem insignificant to students when they need to pay a hefty college fee now and will need to repay college debts for a long time after they graduate. Unlike students whose parents save up for their children’s college educations, many FG students are not fortunate enough to have financial support from their families. Moreover, FG parents may not have insight or information on how to maximize their children’s financial aid packages or the process and eligibility requirements for aid.
You can talk to them about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) and scholarships meant specifically for first-generation students. The students must understand the deadlines, documents, and grade requirements they may need to maintain for different scholarships. You can identify your low-income students who might be eligible for waivers on college application fee and standardized test fee, and guide them about securing these waivers.
- Orient Them on the College-Application and Selection Process
To find the colleges that fit best, students need both self-awareness and information about colleges. You can identify colleges that seek to enroll first-generation students and target your students’ efforts there. You may need to talk at length about the different types of colleges and their cultures. An effective way to create excitement about college would be to encourage your students to visit colleges and ask questions from students, tour guides, counselors, and educators there. Your students might need your help in tackling questions such as: Which schools should they add to their college list after considering their aptitude, test scores, financial position, and other differentiators? Which topic should they write about for the application essay? Which major has good job or pay prospects (often a prime concern for these students)? Which standardized tests should they take? You can also help them with the Common App and/or the Coalition App to apply to colleges.
Your students can keep organized during the application process by downloading the free, easy-to-use apps in our blog “Top 5 Mobile Apps to Keep Your Student Organized During the Application Process.”
- Set Expectations
Since first-generation students may not have their parents’ experience to lean on when selecting a college or financial aid, it is often necessary for counselors and educators to talk to them about the academic requirements they will need to fulfill and maintain to qualify for aid/scholarships or to get accepted by different colleges. It’s best to prepare them about the anticipated additional college-going costs- social expenses, tours, books, etc. You can apprise them about the social challenges they will face on a college campus. Pre-empting their tendencies to aim for schools out of reach or unfit for them can avoid much distress later on.
- Identify Role Models and Support Programs on Campus
First-generation students can struggle more than regular students to fit into college life, especially in the first year. They or their peers often perceive their “different” status as a stigma. Campus visits to colleges with well-developed support systems in place will make them feel “they belong.” Imfirst.org maintains a list of colleges having support organizations for FG students. Free one-on-one mentorship programs available in many college campuses can significantly improve your students’ academic performance and retention rates.
- Quantify Their Potential Through Self-Assessment Tests
The SAT and the ACT standardized test scores are accepted by a majority of colleges to assess applicants during the admission process. But being the first member of their family to go to college, first-generation students may not know the standardized test they should take. You can explain the pros and cons of both the tests; give them the SAT and ACT preparation checklists; encourage them to take practice tests; and help address their academic gaps by giving remedial classes and tutoring outside the classroom. You can distribute SAT fee waivers to eligible low-income students in your school.
Take an affordable, customized college tour with your students
Guidance from counselors and educators can be invaluable for students lacking family support. But the first-hand information and authentic experience students gain from college visits are unmatchable. Our GEAR UP tour program for middle school and high school students offers a student-college match of nearly 75% and can be customized for your first-generation students.
Kathie Boozer is the founder and president of Explore Colleges, a premier college group tour operator. Explore Colleges’ customized tours help students experience the unique cultures, environments, and opportunities on each campus and inspire them to follow their dreams. Contact Kathie at kboozer@explorecolleges.org
