7 answers
Destiny
Student
Monterey Park, California
1
Question
Asked
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As a first gen attending college what are some tips for college?
I am a 17-year-old attending high school soon to graduate and I need some pointers on what to expect as someone that has no guidance on what to expect from college, I've chosen to pursue a higher education and to help make a difference in the medical field. Any advice would be helpful. #college-advice
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7 answers
Tracy Davis
Telecom
2
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Tracy’s Answer
Hi Destiny,
Starting college at a younger age can be both exciting and overwhelming. Many students feel unsure at first, but they gradually become confident and capable.
Remember, college is about learning how to learn. It's normal to feel lost during your first semester; it doesn't mean you don't belong.
Make use of your resources. Since you mentioned having no guidance, these will be crucial:
1. Academic Advisor: They can help you choose classes, understand requirements, and keep you on track.
2. Tutoring and Learning Center: Offers free help for tough subjects, especially useful if you're considering pre-med or healthcare.
3. Office Hours: Professors hold these regularly. You can ask for clarity or study tips even if you don't have specific problems.
4. First-Generation Student Programs: Many colleges offer support groups, mentorship, or workshops for students whose parents didn't attend college.
I hope this helps you, Destiny.
Starting college at a younger age can be both exciting and overwhelming. Many students feel unsure at first, but they gradually become confident and capable.
Remember, college is about learning how to learn. It's normal to feel lost during your first semester; it doesn't mean you don't belong.
Make use of your resources. Since you mentioned having no guidance, these will be crucial:
1. Academic Advisor: They can help you choose classes, understand requirements, and keep you on track.
2. Tutoring and Learning Center: Offers free help for tough subjects, especially useful if you're considering pre-med or healthcare.
3. Office Hours: Professors hold these regularly. You can ask for clarity or study tips even if you don't have specific problems.
4. First-Generation Student Programs: Many colleges offer support groups, mentorship, or workshops for students whose parents didn't attend college.
I hope this helps you, Destiny.
Anj J
Pharmacy Intern
1
Answer
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Anj’s Answer
Feel free to ask for help when you need it. Visit office hours or talk to friends if you're having a tough time. It might seem scary, but your professors want to help you do well. Remember, you don't have to handle everything alone. Make good friends and enjoy your time in college, even if you're focused on your studies.
Brittanie Fleming, M.S.
Contract Management
6
Answers
Annapolis Junction, Maryland
Updated
Brittanie’s Answer
Hi Destiny,
I'm really impressed by your choice to go into higher education, especially in the medical field. While I didn't choose medicine, I have a lot of college experience. I earned a dual Bachelor's in Exercise Science and Psychology, then got my Master's in Psychology with a focus on sport and exercise performance. Now, I'm working on my PhD in Psychology!
College is what you make of it. I encourage you to meet new people and join activities that weren't available in high school. Your world really expands in college, and you'll meet people from all over. That's the exciting part—you get to see more of the world in a safe setting.
Don't be afraid to take risks or make changes. I changed my major four times before deciding on a dual major, which took me five years. But it wasn't a failure. I got my degree, and that's what counts.
Most importantly, have fun! I tell my son, who is your age and starting college in 2026, the same thing. School is about reaching your goals, but remember to enjoy the journey. You only get this chance once as an undergrad, so make the most of it and start shaping who you want to be!
All the best!
I'm really impressed by your choice to go into higher education, especially in the medical field. While I didn't choose medicine, I have a lot of college experience. I earned a dual Bachelor's in Exercise Science and Psychology, then got my Master's in Psychology with a focus on sport and exercise performance. Now, I'm working on my PhD in Psychology!
College is what you make of it. I encourage you to meet new people and join activities that weren't available in high school. Your world really expands in college, and you'll meet people from all over. That's the exciting part—you get to see more of the world in a safe setting.
Don't be afraid to take risks or make changes. I changed my major four times before deciding on a dual major, which took me five years. But it wasn't a failure. I got my degree, and that's what counts.
Most importantly, have fun! I tell my son, who is your age and starting college in 2026, the same thing. School is about reaching your goals, but remember to enjoy the journey. You only get this chance once as an undergrad, so make the most of it and start shaping who you want to be!
All the best!
Renata Hairston
Consultant
4
Answers
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Updated
Renata’s Answer
Hello Destiny,
As a first-time college attendee and completor for my family, I understand your nervousness. Give yourself grace as you get ready to set the bar for the next generation behind you. Great job in knowing what you desire and want for your future. That is the best start. As well as you venture on this next journey, remember that sometimes it is okay to take a different path when things don't add up or work the way you expected. We forget that change can be a good thing and not always a negative factor. Thank you for wanting to study in a field that needs so much care and innovative solutions for our world. I recommend journaling your journey so that you can look back at how and where you started. It is also a good stress reliever when you may just need to get things off your mind without having someone give an opinion on your thoughts. Remember to take a break when you begin studying. We can overwork ourselves at times, and it is very unhealthy. Your mind needs relaxation as well, so ensure to incorporate self-care for yourself.
Tips for college:
1. Sync your calendar to the syllabus so that you do not miss important tests or study factors.
2. Have a mentor-someone to hold you accountable to your goals
3. Have a study group or a friend that you can chat with when needed.
4. Do not be afraid to ask the professor questions; they are there to guide and help you
5. Remember to take a break to give your mind a reset.
Good luck on your next journey!
As a first-time college attendee and completor for my family, I understand your nervousness. Give yourself grace as you get ready to set the bar for the next generation behind you. Great job in knowing what you desire and want for your future. That is the best start. As well as you venture on this next journey, remember that sometimes it is okay to take a different path when things don't add up or work the way you expected. We forget that change can be a good thing and not always a negative factor. Thank you for wanting to study in a field that needs so much care and innovative solutions for our world. I recommend journaling your journey so that you can look back at how and where you started. It is also a good stress reliever when you may just need to get things off your mind without having someone give an opinion on your thoughts. Remember to take a break when you begin studying. We can overwork ourselves at times, and it is very unhealthy. Your mind needs relaxation as well, so ensure to incorporate self-care for yourself.
Tips for college:
1. Sync your calendar to the syllabus so that you do not miss important tests or study factors.
2. Have a mentor-someone to hold you accountable to your goals
3. Have a study group or a friend that you can chat with when needed.
4. Do not be afraid to ask the professor questions; they are there to guide and help you
5. Remember to take a break to give your mind a reset.
Good luck on your next journey!
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Destiny !
Being the first one to attend college from your immediate family is both awesome and you are not in any way at a disadvantage. College will be a natural transition from High School and you will have many supports on campus. It's a time to enter a new world as your parents had but in a different way.
The biggest tip that I can give you is to: be yourself. Stay curious and exude that positive energy that will keep you focused on all you do. You can be you no matter what generation you are from !
Although I was a second generation college student, many of my classmates were first gens, but they had absolutely no problems or issues at college. It was not a "thing" back when I went to college, no set-up thinking that it's harder. I went to college in California, too, and found that my very new surroundings were exciting and very supportive seeing as I was born and raised in the North Eastern U.S. So, you see, we all have some awesome change that happens after high school. It is different for everyone and should be embraced as personal growth and new beginnings.
Of course times are much different today than when I went to college many moons ago. When I say "be yourself", I mean stick to your values, use discernment, expand your knowledge that you'll need for your degree/career and make strong connections with your major department so you'll be up to date and aware of opportunities. Without even thinking about it, you will experience a natural progression.
Most of all, it is my perspective that you are not different because you're the first to go to college in your family. Your abilities and motivation to study should not be clouded by a label that is meaningless. The only thing I knew before college as a second generation student was there are textbooks, term papers and you get graded. I had to learn a new state, a new city and culture, a campus and new people. So it's only natural that regardless of who went to college in whose family, we still all adapt as we have the innate instinct to adapt.
So go forward knowing that no matter what you may need, you will have supports on campus. People like to help new students navigate the campus and learn procedures. Every one of us had to ask what the guidelines were, no matter who went to college in our families. You'll do great !
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Being the first one to attend college from your immediate family is both awesome and you are not in any way at a disadvantage. College will be a natural transition from High School and you will have many supports on campus. It's a time to enter a new world as your parents had but in a different way.
The biggest tip that I can give you is to: be yourself. Stay curious and exude that positive energy that will keep you focused on all you do. You can be you no matter what generation you are from !
Although I was a second generation college student, many of my classmates were first gens, but they had absolutely no problems or issues at college. It was not a "thing" back when I went to college, no set-up thinking that it's harder. I went to college in California, too, and found that my very new surroundings were exciting and very supportive seeing as I was born and raised in the North Eastern U.S. So, you see, we all have some awesome change that happens after high school. It is different for everyone and should be embraced as personal growth and new beginnings.
Of course times are much different today than when I went to college many moons ago. When I say "be yourself", I mean stick to your values, use discernment, expand your knowledge that you'll need for your degree/career and make strong connections with your major department so you'll be up to date and aware of opportunities. Without even thinking about it, you will experience a natural progression.
Most of all, it is my perspective that you are not different because you're the first to go to college in your family. Your abilities and motivation to study should not be clouded by a label that is meaningless. The only thing I knew before college as a second generation student was there are textbooks, term papers and you get graded. I had to learn a new state, a new city and culture, a campus and new people. So it's only natural that regardless of who went to college in whose family, we still all adapt as we have the innate instinct to adapt.
So go forward knowing that no matter what you may need, you will have supports on campus. People like to help new students navigate the campus and learn procedures. Every one of us had to ask what the guidelines were, no matter who went to college in our families. You'll do great !
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Steve Rankin
Contract Management Consultant
4
Answers
El Dorado Hills, California
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Hi Destiny,
First off - congratulations! What an awesome opportunity, especially going into something so challenging and rewarding as the medical field.
One of the best suggestions I can offer is to be a sponge when it comes to your classes - absorb as much as you can and while it can be daunting at first, I think you'll find higher education to be very eye opening. It may feel like you're drinking from a fire hose with the deeper you dive into your field of study but after a time, I think you'll eventually really get a good feel for the higher education experience.
Don't forget to have fun exploring what your college has to offer - whether it be social clubs or organizations that can help enhance your field of study or just enjoyable experiences outside of your academics. My daughter is in her third year of college, and she's going super strong into her major (agriculture) because it's something she genuinely enjoys. You may only get one shot at the college experience, so make the most of it!
Good luck! : )
First off - congratulations! What an awesome opportunity, especially going into something so challenging and rewarding as the medical field.
One of the best suggestions I can offer is to be a sponge when it comes to your classes - absorb as much as you can and while it can be daunting at first, I think you'll find higher education to be very eye opening. It may feel like you're drinking from a fire hose with the deeper you dive into your field of study but after a time, I think you'll eventually really get a good feel for the higher education experience.
Don't forget to have fun exploring what your college has to offer - whether it be social clubs or organizations that can help enhance your field of study or just enjoyable experiences outside of your academics. My daughter is in her third year of college, and she's going super strong into her major (agriculture) because it's something she genuinely enjoys. You may only get one shot at the college experience, so make the most of it!
Good luck! : )
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi Destiny 👋🏻...
First-gen students carry a kind of quiet strength that shows up in the way you work, learn, and keep going even when things aren’t mapped out for you. That strength is going to help you more than you realize.
A few things make the transition smoother... The first is learning to ask for help early instead of waiting until things feel overwhelming. Colleges have tutoring centers, writing labs, advisors, and success coaches, these are made exactly for students like you, and there’s no shame in using them. Most people who look like they “have it all together” are using them too.
Another thing that helps is getting organized in small, steady ways. A planner or a digital calendar where you track deadlines, exams, and study time will save you a lot of stress. College gives you more freedom than high school, but that freedom only works if you build structure for yourself.
Since you want to enter the medical field, it’s useful to explore early. Join a health-related club, volunteer at a clinic or hospital, or shadow someone when you can. You’re not choosing your lifelong specialty right now, you’re just collecting experiences that help you see what feels right.
And maybe the most important piece: give yourself permission to grow. You don’t need to know everything on day one. Every first-gen student learns the college “rules” as they go, and you’re not behind. You’re building something for yourself and maybe for your family too, and that’s something to be proud of.
College will stretch you, but it will also open doors you didn’t know existed. As you keep exploring, you’ll start to see which paths feel meaningful and where you want to make your mark.
First-gen students carry a kind of quiet strength that shows up in the way you work, learn, and keep going even when things aren’t mapped out for you. That strength is going to help you more than you realize.
A few things make the transition smoother... The first is learning to ask for help early instead of waiting until things feel overwhelming. Colleges have tutoring centers, writing labs, advisors, and success coaches, these are made exactly for students like you, and there’s no shame in using them. Most people who look like they “have it all together” are using them too.
Another thing that helps is getting organized in small, steady ways. A planner or a digital calendar where you track deadlines, exams, and study time will save you a lot of stress. College gives you more freedom than high school, but that freedom only works if you build structure for yourself.
Since you want to enter the medical field, it’s useful to explore early. Join a health-related club, volunteer at a clinic or hospital, or shadow someone when you can. You’re not choosing your lifelong specialty right now, you’re just collecting experiences that help you see what feels right.
And maybe the most important piece: give yourself permission to grow. You don’t need to know everything on day one. Every first-gen student learns the college “rules” as they go, and you’re not behind. You’re building something for yourself and maybe for your family too, and that’s something to be proud of.
College will stretch you, but it will also open doors you didn’t know existed. As you keep exploring, you’ll start to see which paths feel meaningful and where you want to make your mark.