BEATING
THE ODDS
Finding success as a first-generation college student
7
BY SEAN NYHAN
A college education might be the
American dream, but if you’re a firstgeneration
student it’s time to wake up.
Acceptance to college is only the first
step on your journey to realizing a degree.
Reading that glorious letter affirming
your entrance into next year’s freshman
class might feel like the opportunity
you’ve been waiting for your entire life;
and rightfully so. But after you celebrate,
consider the unfortunate statistics that
persist among your first-generation
peers.
Studying the 10-year academic trajectories
of students from sophomore year
of high school moving forward, the Department
of Education (DOE) found that
around 20 percent of first-generation
college students had obtained a bachelor’s
degree within a decade, compared
with 42 percent of continuing generation
students — a term researchers used to
describe students with at least one parent
who had attended college.
Students drop out of college for many
reasons: an overwhelming financial burden,
a family emergency, stress, illness or
just plain lack of interest.
While it might seem like tuition would
be their biggest barrier, first-generation
students are only 10 percent more likely
than continuing-generation students to
report financial issues as their reason for
falling off the college track.
Then why are first-generation students
so much more vulnerable?
First of all, before you panic, know that
you are just as prepared academically
as your peers. There is no evidence that
points to academic ability as the cause
for lower graduation rates among firstgeneration
students. In fact, most of the
pitfalls ahead are avoidable.
Angela Conley manages the program
known as EMERGE, a group within the
Houston Independent School District
that connects students from underserved
backgrounds with colleges and universities.
Aside from financial concerns, Conley
most often hears two dominant fears
from first-generation students: “Will I fit
in with students from the middle and upper
classes?” and “How do I best prepare
so that I don’t fail?”
“Many are intellectually ready for the
coursework, but flummoxed by the social
wherewithal,” Conley said. “Many of my
former advisees are intimidated more by
the social scene.”
For students representing the first in
their families to attend college, the ability
to adjust to very different social circles
can mean the difference between graduating
and dropping out.
Furthermore, while first-generation
students have always faced uphill battles,
Conley named several issues unique to
today’s academic environment. There is,
of course, the behemoth that is social
media, which can intimidate as much
as it connects. Bullying, shaming and
a generally combative atmosphere are
commonly reported on social media.
Today’s divisive political climate
doesn’t make things any easier. Conley’s
students worry about very real threats
like on-campus hate groups and the horror
and frequency of campus shootings.
All students worry about one or more
of these issues at any given time. For
first-generation students, though, these
anxieties can loom larger, like an allergy
that affects some members of the population
more than others.
As a means to cope with uncertainty,
Conley strongly encourages first-generation
students to immerse themselves
in simulated college experiences, such
as competitive summer prep and bridge
programs and visits to campuses that include
overnight stays in real dorm rooms.
Conley also recommends exposure to
a healthy diet of diverse books, articles
and other accounts outside of your own
bubble. This, she says, will help “students
build both collegiate grammar and
vocabulary, as well as a sensibility of
other global realities beyond their primarily
American experiences.”
Through this exposure, both in person
and via secondhand narratives, you can
feel more comfortable about college,
even if you’re venturing into new territory.
And don’t fret; you’re not alone.
Here are some great resources to help
you prepare for the reality of college:
• I’m First! — an online community
supporting first-generation students
• FastWeb’s Field Guide for First-
Generation College Students — tips for
navigating the college admission process
• College websites — many campuses
provide unique on-campus resources for
first-generation students.