College is a time for aspiring students to discover their identities, develop a career pathway, and find their place in the world. The transition from living at home through high school to living on-campus in college can be a difficult endeavor for any student. However, without familial mentors or advisors who have successfully navigated these onerous steps before can be an impossible undertaking.
As a first-gen student, I couldn’t rely on my parents or family members to forge my future, I had to design and build it myself. From applying for financial aid to finally reaching academic success in the form of a professional degree, the journey was an uphill battle.
So, what is it about first-gen students that makes it difficult for them to navigate through higher education?
First, let’s do a dive into who the first-generation college student is.
The phrase “first-gen” itself is often used to describe those students whose parents did not attend college or university and/or did not graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
Compared to continuing-generation students, first-gen college students are at a disadvantage even before transitioning from home to living on-campus. Prior to that, it should be acknowledged that the first-gen student meets their first hurdle in high school, at the college application process. Without a support system of individuals who underwent the process, there is no advice and no one to look up to for guidance. After acceptance, the student is torn between commuting and living on-campus. Some, but not all, first-gen students are managing a work life while studying and have family responsibilities they feel guilty shrugging off.
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