Being a first generation college student is an exhilarating yet daunting undertaking. When you finally receive that letter of acceptance to the college of your choice, and figure out what financial aid or scholarship package works best for you it is easy to sit down for a spell and rest. However, those of us who have completed our degrees know that this is only the beginning.
Beginning your college career can be very scary once you begin to take in all that college has to offer. I can remember the first time I learned that a friend’s high school curriculum included classes such as economics, and advanced biology where she learned to dissect a pig. My high school class barely had resources to obtain frogs for us to learn on. Nevertheless, the thing to remember is that you’re in the same school as these students. You were admitted just the same as they were. The key for the first generation college student will be to learn higher education culture, and to learn it quickly.
Step one is to start with either a summer program or orientation. If there is a summer “bridge” program then like NIKE, “Just Do it!” A summer bridge program can help you learn the ins and outs of college life. These programs are designed to catch you up to speed with the same information that other students receive from their college educated parents, and the best part is that staff who work on these programs typically love what they do, and can become advocates for you throughout your collegiate career. New student orientation is just as important as summer bridge.
New student orientation is typically mandatory for all students. This is a time for you to bond with your new classmates and wrap up any final details about your status as a new student. Hopefully by then you will have guaranteed your room with residence life, settled your financial account, taken your placement exams, and registered for classes, but if you haven’t then orientation is your chance to get it all done. Also, take advantage of this time to walk around campus and the surrounding neighborhood. You’ll be so busy during the school year that you might not have the opportunity again.
Your next steps involve being proactive in your own academic life. Professors aren’t going to seek you out if you do not do well in classes. They provide you with their contact information, and it is up to you to discuss with them your concerns or difficulties. Students who take the time to talk to their professors, teaching assistants, and advisors early in the semester will often find that we’re a more sympathetic lot than if you wait until the end and your grades are in the toilet. Conversely, if you are doing well in your classes these same people will be able to recommend you coveted internships and other experiences to enhance your time in college. The key is to see them early, and to be sure they know who you are.
If I knew then when I was in college, what I know now as a collegiate administrator I would be more inclined to take advantage of all that my university had to offer. Yes, there were challenges for me, such as working more than 20 hours per week. However, it is still important to figure out some way to actively engage in your college community. A large part of earning a degree is just that: earning great grades and graduating. But another large part of being a college student is also finding some way to get involved on campus, even if that involvement seems small and insignificant.
Guest contributor Shonda Goward is a professor of English and academic advisor in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She is especially passionate about the success of first generation college students because she was one. Shonda attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an out-of-state student, and graduated with a double major in Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Science. More of her work can be found at First Generation University, which is a reflection of her personal commitment to giving first generation, and other non-traditional students, agency when it comes to their success.
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