As a first generation college student I did not know what to expect from college. Sure I had heard plenty of stories from my peers and high school teachers, however, hearing a story and actually experiencing is very different. I had heard all too many times things such as- you will be more independent, be sure to ask a lot of questions, and most importantly college is very expensive. Whenever someone would talk about the tuition issue among different universities a certain question ways lingered in my head. I asked myself, “Is college worth it?”.…
References: Elam, C., Stratton, T., & Gibson, D. (2007, Spring). Welcoming a new generation to college: The Millennial students. Journal of College Admission,195, 20-25. Retrieved from http://www.nacac.com.…
Each year in late spring to early summer thousands of young people graduate from high school and are looking forward to attending college. Some have chosen their colleges, are already packed and ready to go off to school and accomplish their dreams. Others are late bloomers, just starting to look at their opportunities after high school graduation. Whichever type they are, they all have one thing in common, they are dreaming big and are ready to go and tackle their future because they all know their options are limitless. However, on the contrary there are thousands of students that graduate each year, that albeit they may have dreams just as big as their former classmates will never know what it is like to attend a college or even to visit college campuses.…
For many High School graduates, applying to college is a daunting adventure where new opportunities, relationships, and knowledge are ready to be explored. As a new freshman, I was not ready to succumb to the possibility of becoming a poltroon in this new and exciting world. I was ready to thrust myself into college with the adherence and prowess that most students lacked when they finished high school.…
As a consequence, of graduating seniors are thrust into a world that they have no idea how to handle without drowning if not properly prepared. Notably, college allows seniors to slowly adjust to the new and somewhat exciting changes that come with being able to choose one's next path. In taking the initiative and attending college one has gifted themselves with time to figure out the next step.…
The number of undergraduates enrolled in higher education in the United States has risen to new heights (NCES, 2012). Between 1999 and 2009 alone, US college matriculation increased by 38 percent, three times the rate of the preceding decade (Rosenbaum, Deil-Amen, & Person, 2006). This stunning growth is driven in large part by record enrollments of “nontraditional” students: defined as older, minority, of lower income, and often the first generation in their family to attend college (NCES, 2011). Their numbers have been increasing since the 1970s, while the “traditional” definition of a college student as young, financially dependent, and living on campus now describes only about 14% of current undergraduates in the U.S. (Attewell & Lavin, 2012). While the bulk of undergraduates engage in higher education as commuters, however, most research on higher education (with the exceptions of Chang, 2005; Pascarella, Duby & Iverson, 1983) continues to focus on traditional, residential institutions. Urban commuter colleges, such as community colleges and the new, for-profit career colleges, have attracted the most challenged segments of the non-traditional population (Baum, Little, & Payea, 2011; NCES, 2012). Compared to other four year colleges, urban commuter and career colleges have a significantly larger percentage of students below the poverty line, a larger percentage of single parents, African American and Latino students, and first generation college students (Deming, Goldin & Katz, 2010; Rosenbaum, Deil-Amen, & Person, 2006) that, taken together, raise the specter of growing segregation in higher education. About 72% of two year and 54% of four year community colleges are minority students, while minorities constitute about 80% of career college enrollments (NCES, 2012). This concentrated environment of minority, disadvantaged students at commuter schools presents a challenge to social models of…
A first-generation college student is deemed as a student going to college for the first time. They have chosen to go to college and make something of their lives. However, many of them can’t attend college because of financial reason. These are the students that may have come from low, middle or high class families with no college tradition. Their parents want to support their decision to go to college, willing to provide support wherever needed especially assist with filling out financial aid forms; but as parents, they may be under a financial crisis and need them to start work to help the family out.…
Many students go to college with the sole intention to get their degree, become employed, and earn a higher salary. Students with these intentions tend to struggle more throughout their college years. Students go to college because they obtain skills and characteristics that employers find desirable. These skills and characteristics also allow them to function in society. Making the leap from high school classrooms to college campuses can be difficult for many students simply because college professors expect so much more inside and outside of the classroom. Students who go to college are expected to be self-sufficient from the day they get there. At the collegiate level, students should come to class ready to participate, engage in the course…
In the world today, very few situations can bring all kinds of different people together for a common goal (Oachs). In college, all different races, economic backgrounds and different communities all end up in the same place on an equal level. College starts everyone on the ground floor. No matter where someone came from or what they may have done before. College can reveal numerous paths which otherwise, may have never presented themselves. Higher education is viewed as an option for everyone who put in the effort to fulfill their “American Dream”. College can be very expensive and be a burden for graduates; however, college is worth the cost due to wage comparisons, college is a phenomenal learning experience, and it can be affordable with…
Research became an integral part of my life over the course of one summer when I took part in the McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievemnet Program. This program lasted approximately two months but that short amount of time drastically changed everything I had planned for my future. After the program, I changed my undergraduate major, I altered the extracirriculars I was involved in, and my career goals shifted drastically from the plan I had in place. As a first generation college student, my perspective of possible career options was limited an did not include continued academic pursuits. Through the McNair program, my eyes were opened to a new realm of opportunities. For the longest time I had a simple understanding of what "research" truly…
America is growing and changing, and the fastest growing minority group is the Hispanic population. The 2010 United States Census Bureau data shows the Hispanic population grew from 35.3 million people in 2000 to 50.5 million people in 2010. That increase accounts for more than half the population growth in America over the last ten years. The Hispanic community is going to continue to grow and contribute to our society in big numbers. It is important that they successfully complete their baccalaureate degree because higher education plays an important role in the economic development and leadership roles in the United States (Castellanos and Jones 149). Unfortunately, graduating from college as a Hispanic in America is difficult. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2009 the percentage of Hispanic students enrolled in college was 12 compared to 62 of White students. Of that 12% only 8% graduated with a Bachelor’s degree compared to 71% of the White population. It is crucial to find out what factors prevent Hispanics from obtaining a degree and what changes need to be made to help them reach their goals. As the number of Hispanics enrolling in college increases, the resources colleges and universities provide should be increasing as well. It is clear that Hispanic students are trying to succeed in college; however, it is not their fault if they do not have the proper resources to utilize their full potential. Many students are the first in their family to attend college and that brings in different factors that make their transition into college difficult. Low socioeconomic status, infrequent interaction with faculty and administration, lack of guidance from family, and poor quality secondary education are some factors that make it difficult to ease into the college experience (Garcia 840). It is important for Hispanics to get a college education not only for themselves but for society and future generations.…
This study provides understanding of college readiness from the perspectives of older firstgeneration college students, transferred from community college. Results indicate life experiences contribute to academic skills, time management, goal focus, and self-advocacy. Research is recommended to improve nontraditional student advising and placement, community college-to-university transfer, and college reading instruction.…
As the price of college continues to be on the rise, many are starting to question the benefits of a college education. They wonder if students are receiving relevant education. They wonder if student debts will leave the young adults of America scraping for pennies. They wonder if the stress of colleges will leave the new generation in a mental mess.…
being college graduates. A struggle that may influence my ability to achieve my academic goals…
First-generation students are the first in their families attend a post-secondary institution. They are more likely to face many challenges in university life and how they experience their higher education. “Within the institution, first-generation students may have lower levels of academic and social integration” (Billson and Terry, 1982), and have, as Terenzini and associates (1996) point out, “less positive out-of-class experiences than traditional students”. In fact, many research studies have found that first-generation students lack engagement in academic and social capacities, as for example, they don’t show their engagement in the learning and social experiences such as joining events, participating in classes, using support services,…