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With Being a First Generation College Student, Who Can You Talk to for More Information?

My family has never went to or completed college. This means that it is impossible to get help from them. What can I do to get help? #first-generation #help #college

help first-generation
Thank you comment icon Hi Merenda! One thing I learned throughout my time in college is that it is more than okay to ask for help. Here are some programs you can join to receive the help and support that you may need. Bottom Line: https://www.bottomline.org/ College Possible: https://collegepossible.org/ Also, take advantage and maximize the resources that are available to you. I cannot stress that enough. I hope my advice helps you with your college journey. If you have any more questions or want to ask me specific questions about my personal experiences being a college student, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. (LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-laddaran/). Monica
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Alexandra’s Answer

Dear Merenda,


Congratulations on embarking on the journey of college. It is difficult to not be able to obtain advice from your own family, but rest assured that many people will be out there and able to help you.


One of the best ways to obtain advice is to meet someone who is already in college or perhaps a recent graduate and ask them for advice. You can ask if your school can connect you with a recent grad who can act as a mentor.


Also, you could address this issue with a teacher or coach in your school and they might give you advice but also point you to someone who can act as a mentor. Do you also have any friends who have parents/siblings who have gone to college? You should not feel bashful about approaching them and asking them to share advice.


Another way to approach this would be to ask around in the community. Do you go to a church or local club, or do some volunteer work? Ask the people who run these activities to share advice for college.


Finally, as the answers below suggest, speak with your guidance counselor in school about your questions.


Good luck!
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Stephanie’s Answer

Hi Merenda! First of all, I commend you on thinking and planning for college life! I would agree with Jonathan Jovel in speaking to a School Counselor as your first point of contact.


I would also encourage you to ask/find out about Opportunity Programs available at the colleges you’re planning to attend (you can ask your Counselor for assistance or they maybe able to connect you with the Admissions reps). These programs are geared towards providing academic and some financial support to students like yourself, first-generation and other student populations as well (you have to apply to those programs). I would suggest the TRiO Programs: Upward Bound (for high school students) and Student Support Services (for college students).


You can also find out through the colleges’ Student Services Department (department names may vary college to college). They will be able to provide guidance while in college but also as a resource to other services that may be available on their campus for students like yourself.


Good luck!

Stephanie recommends the following next steps:

Speak with your High School Counselor
Contact the Admissions representatives from the colleges you’re planning to attend and ask if they have Opportunity Programs that serve first-generation students.
Do your own research by visiting the colleges websites and look for the student services page or even their office phone number to speak with an advisor.
Thank you comment icon Great feedback and spot on! Michael Green II
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Marley’s Answer

Hi Merenda, first and foremost, congrats on taking the initiative to further your education. I was also a first generation college student, my parents didn't speak much English either. The truth is, you might have to do some stuff on your own. Some families are traditional or simply don't know how to help and support. This means being really diligent and taking on responsibilities of your own. Most colleges have orientations for school and financial aid presentation, attend these. I always tell my students if you won't take the time to attend these, how will you take the time to do school work? Use online resources to learn more about college and make sure that are reputable and accredited. Most of all never pay for advice or help, some websites out there charge. I grew up pretty poor so keep yourself motivated and remember the benefits of getting a degree will not only support you, but your your family and give back to your community. It only takes one person in a family to lead path for education, and the transformation it makes in families. We have six daughters in our family, five have degrees, four of them are advanced (one is a doctor!). You can do it! Last piece of advice: if you have questions, ASK, and don't stop asking until you understand!
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Leslie’s Answer

I also commend you for your aspirations of obtaining a college degree. Studies have shown that people with a college degree have far greater income than those without. I also recommend talking to a trusted teacher from high school and/or the guidance counselor. These individuals have been to college and may even have a relationship with local colleges/universities in your area. Also, if you know someone who has graduated or is attending college, see if they would be willing to answer some of the questions you may have. Also use GOGGLE to look for answers and to look at the websites of the colleges/universities you may have an interest in. There is a lot of information out there, don't be afraid to ask for assistance. There really is ALOT to selecting the right college/university and the right program for you...Best wishes!!!! Don't give up!!!
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Zahra’s Answer

Hi Merenda - Congratulations on being proactive and wanting to obtain a college degree. Similar to you, I was a first-gen student. Looking back, I found it helpful connecting with teachers at my high school, career counselors (if offered at your school), and some of my friends parents that attended college. Everyone was supportive from talking with me about SATs, the college application process, etc. Remember, you are not alone to manage this. Good luck!
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Alecia’s Answer

Congratulations on wanting to continue your education. Even though your family members may not have attended college, they have an opinion on your need to continue learning. Who was your favorite teacher? Whether you had this person in the first grade or senior English instructor, this person would be a good person to speak with about college. You may want to seek an individual in your community you know that went to college to speak with as well. Particularly, a person who is working in your career interest. It also helps to have a list of questions you want to ask this person. Seek out individuals you trust to speak truthfully with you about continuing your education.

I wish the best in your endeavors.
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James’s Answer

If you can find an adult who did go to college, talk to them. Your high school teachers went to college, so I would suggest talking to one of them, particularly a younger one whose experience was more recent. A pastor might be good to talk to, also.

Be careful about what college recruiters tell you. They're sales people, trying to get you into their school. Their jobs depend on recruiting you. They will not always tell you the whole truth or everything you need to know.
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Jonathan’s Answer

A school counselor is a great personal to talk to they can help guide you to take the indicated classes so your not wasting your time. They can set you in the right track to the career you are aiming to achieve
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Matthew’s Answer

I agree with all of the above. School Counselor is a great starting point. In addition, if you do not know what you want to do for your career, you could do a personality test to see which areas align best with your personality. Once you narrow down what you want to do, you could always try and find older students/alumni from the school for a coffee chat!
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Brenn M.’s Answer

I am a first-generation college student as well. There are many ways to gain advice about going to college and what career choices are of interest to you. As other posts have mentioned, reach out to advisors and teachers at your current school who have knowledge of the academic requirements for certain majors, as these will be important for you while in high school especially if you need certain courses as prerequisites for your freshman courses. Your school advising team will also know the steps for applying to colleges. And attend college fairs, every fair you can get too. Career fairs are also helpful because you will get to meet and ask questions to career/college admissions teams who can direct you to certain majors of interest and provide you with the information about what is required to make your wishes come true.

You can look at college websites all day long and find endless information. However, I do not recommend starting there, it's overwhelming. I do suggest starting with you. What do you want to do? That will be the question everyone wants you to answer. When you have an idea of 1 - 3 majors you are interested in, then seek out information from people you may know who already have that major or are working in that position. They will let you know what "a day in the life" is like and what it really means to work day to day in that position, and they may share what their salaries are too. Sometimes it seems like a certain career choice is interesting until you find out what it really means, and what you will do week after week may not be what you thought it would be. Talking with many people about what you are interested in will help guide you to the right college for that career/major.

Finally, get a good advisor on campus. That means someone that makes you feel heard and understood. I went through 3 advisors during my freshman year because I felt the first two weren't paying attention to me, and they were always complaining about being too busy. It stressed me out. My third advisor saved my college career, eliminated my frustration with the others, and helped me get on a fast track towards graduation; something the other two never mentioned. The advisor you have can make all the difference in the world. I am still friends with mine long after I graduated. Good luck, and be great!
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Michael’s Answer

It’s important to think about the fact that your parents would rather not give you advice and take the safe route and allow you to have advice from either a formal academic advisor at your current high school, college, or through an agency that you personally elect.

At this time, the best thing to do is to talk to someone within your non-immediate family circle to see:

1) Who you feel a genuine connection with in all things.

2) Feel the person / persons have the experience to be able to help you here.

That person(s) within your non-immediate family may suggest that you go to someone they recommend. This referral from a trusted person will give you a few layers of comfort when it comes time to ask about your academic pathways.

Quite frankly, you should always remember how important it is to be relaxed and take the time to decide what your major will be. You may be inspired from a close friend, influencer, or even current high school / university teacher. If not, take the time to visit academic forums in your area with the respective college of your choice, and see how things go from there. There are also physical meetup groups (meetup.com) that have people who most likely share your dilemma/feelings and will provide some insight on your situation.

Good luck and keep us posted how it goes!
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Mallory’s Answer

Hello! I am also a first generation college student, and now a recent graduate. I stumbled along the way, trying to figure out college on my own. I would recommend reaching out to an admissions counselor at a university you think you might want to apply to. I would ask tell them your situation and ask them for guidance. In addition, you could also reach out to your high school counselor for advice. I would start prepping yourself for the SAT or ACT, as many universities require your test results in order to evaluate admission. However, due to Covid, some universities may not require test scores for next fall, so I would check their website. If they do require test scores, there are many free resources you can use to study. For example, one good resource is College Board, the company that produces the SAT. They have a partnership with Khan Academy, a popular homework help resource. You can get free SAT prep from them at this link: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice. The priority deadline for college applications is usually November 1st of each year, so it would be a good idea to begin applications this summer in order to attend college next fall. I'd be happy to help you throughout your admissions process, just message me.
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Kenya’s Answer

Hi Merenda!
A good start would be to talk to an advisor or guidance counselor and have questions at the ready. Also, do you know what it is you'd like to study? Your counselor could also point in the direction of what kind of schools you may want to look at and help you with scholarship opportunities.

Best of luck to you!
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Kimberly’s Answer

Hi Merenda -

It can feel daunting to make efforts to do something and not know your are doing it right! The thing is that there are so many ways to get a college education and asking lots of questions is a great start, so you are on your way.

I have read through other answers and will try just to add suggestions I have not seen so far:

See if you can make a list of all the people you can ask - counselors and advisors and admissions officers are clearly one angle but there are more....
Do you admire the parent of a friend or someone not directly related to your schooling - a neighbor, your doctor, a coach? I can not tell you how great it is when my daughter's friends ask me a question about anything that has to do with their taking responsibility and getting an education; if you don't know the specific questions at first, just ask for a bit of their time so they can offer you their advice. This is "informational interviewing" and will come in handy when you look into specific career options too. If you have any idea what you would like to do, you can ask professionals in the field what education they would advise. You don't have to know them personally, although connections can help you get their attention, so ask a favor if you have the chance. Be brave in asking for help - the worst that can happen is they are busy and you move on to your next possibility.

Take advantage of upperclassmen who seem to be succeeding at college. Sometimes a club or sport is a way to connect with more experienced students. Follow your interests, even if you have no experience with the particular sport or activity to expose yourself to people outside your classes. Once you get to know other students a bit you can choose to ask questions as they arise. Lots of people are willing to support earnest effort. Some schools even have a club for students who are the first generation in their family to go to college. Among these people you may find a mentor who can be someone to go back to and who can encourage and advise you along the way.

You will also find out that having family with degrees is not a promise of the support for college you may be imagining. Many, if not most, students feel somewhat lost in their direction at times in spite of their parents' experiences or other perceived advantages.

Take notes while or soon after you ask your questions and collect answers and perspectives. Have a special notebook for this - Something said one month could come in handy down the line. And words of encouragement are great to review when you hit a rough patch as we all do.

Although your own family may not have gone through college, you know what you want to hear from them in terms of general encouragement, so don't be afraid to ask if you think they can do it. Maybe you want a certain frequency of contact or a certain kind of support as you pursue your education. You can ask for this too by having a conversation that begins, "While I am going to school, it would be great/helpful/mean the world to me if you ......"
If you can not get this kind of support from your family, you can help yourself to it by daily reminding yourself that you are capable and you will succeed as long as you make the best choices you know in the moment and don't quit. I will be rooting for you!
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Estefania’s Answer

I would recommend speaking to an advisor that was a first generation student as well (like myself). That was you are able to get more insight as to what to expect during your college career. It is always best to speak to someone that has experienced what you are currently going through.

Feel free to connect with my via LinkedIn!
http://linkedin.com/in/estefanianunezastorga

Best of luck!
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G Anita’s Answer

Finding a Professor who has some "brain" or finding a friend at Church who has experience.
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Allison’s Answer

There is a lot of resources on a college campus. Utilize your advisors, professors, and mentors that are provided from day one of freshman year. Don't be afraid to ask questions because this is a new phase for everyone.
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