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I am the first in my family to go to college. Do you have any advice for me?

Helpful Hints for First Generation Students

Tips for First Generation College Students
•  Because first generation college students don't have immediate family members to give them inside tips on what to expect at college, they may find it harder to adapt to campus life. Here's what you should do as a first generation college student in order to have a successful first year at college.

•   Participate fully in freshmen orientation. There are many benefits of attending freshmen orientation , such as learning your way around school before you have to start attending classes, making new friends, and learning how to register for classes.

•   Contact your advisor whenever you have any questions, and don't miss any advising appointments. Be cautious about getting advice from other students or friends rather than from university staff and faculty. Don't be afraid to ask questions or follow up to find out more information if you still are not sure you understand a campus policy or program. Be assertive. You can look up quite a bit of information on the university website as well and in the university bulletin.

•   Look for campus programs that assist first generation students. These programs will provide tutoring and counseling services to help you adapt to your first year. The Learning Assistance Program, located in D.D. Dougherty Hall on Appalachian State University campus provides these services.

•   Make friends with upper classmen. Having a mentor in college to show you the ropes can be a big help. Finding an upper classmen who is also a first generation college student is an added bonus because he can give you secrets on how he dealt with his first year. The Learning Assistance Program could be a great resource for helping students find a mentor.

•   Ask for the support of your family. Because your parents have never been to college, they may not understand some of the pressures involved. Give your family an idea of what college is like by talking to them about your daily activities. Balancing a college schedule can be extra hard for a first generation college student, so you will need all the encouragement you can get from your family. 

Research on 1st Generation College Students

One of the greatest challenges confronted by first-generation college students is college attendance represents a departure from the pattern established by family and friends, who may in turn become non-supportive or obstructionist (Hsiao, 1992).

First-generation students often sense displeasure on the part of acquaintances, and feel an uncomfortable separation from the culture in which they grew up. Such tensions frequently require the student to "renegotiate relationships" with friends and relatives, something which is not always done easily or with a happy ending ( London , 1992).

Compiled by Erica Greenlee, a first generation student who graduated from Appalachian with a Bachelor's in Sociology, and is currently working on a Master's in Community Counseling.