The experience of every first-generation student is unique, so there is no one-size-fits-all formula for the college search and student success. First-gen students are typically defined as students whose parent or guardian did not complete a four-year or two-year degree program. If one’s parent earned a degree abroad, not in the United States, they are also typically considered a first-generation American student. Therefore, relationships with academic mentors and other professionals are instrumental to college search success for first-generation students, and it's especially helpful to form one with your admission counselor. Let's explore how you can go about forming these key relationships as a first-gen student and kicking off the college process.
How to start the college search process
To begin the college search process, I encourage you to use free resources like CollegeXpress and The College Board’s Big Future. Search tools like these allow you to decide what factors are important to you in building a list and selecting a college, like geographic proximity to home, religious affiliation, student body size, and so forth. It may also be worth broadening your college research to include the retention and graduation rates of first-generation students. The retention rate shows how many students who begin college continue to the second year; it can be a great measure of student academic support, financial aid, and overall happiness.
After you narrow you have a good list, take the time to explore each school’s website and learn about the resources offered to support the academic and collective well-being of students. Some support services that will be crucial to your success as a first-gen student include academic advising to assist with the transition from high school to college, first-year experience programs to cultivate fellowship among your peers and mentors within the university, and programs within the school’s multicultural education center.
Related: First–Gen Students: How to Navigate the College Search
The importance of seeking mentorship
While the college admission process is challenging for every student, it can be much more difficult for first-generation students, as your parents are less able to help in the application process. Given the complexity of the process—and the unique identities and experiences of each student—mentorship between first-generation students and admission counselors can be one of the best resources to find a great-fit college for you. The relationships I have built with high school seniors, especially those who identify as first-gen college students, have taught me that trust grows gradually throughout the college search process. The sooner you connect with your high school counselor or college admission counselors, the more time we have to provide you with as many resources about colleges and universities as possible.
One of the most meaningful experiences during my time in higher education was with a young woman who visited campus one Friday evening with her family. They immediately reminded me of my family when we visited my eventual alma mater, taken aback that we were the only Hispanic family in the visitor lobby. There’s hardly a moment of silence in my family, and similar to how my family dismissed the silence of others to return to speaking Spanish and laughing that day of my campus visit, so too did this student and her family. I knew at that moment she and I shared a lot more than the same first language. After their campus tour, they requested to meet with the Office of Financial Aid, but there wasn’t a Spanish-speaking counselor in that office, so I was asked to join them as a translator, thus opening the door for me to help this student meet her goals. Throughout the year and a half that we worked together, we built a relationship of trust and respect to get her where she needed to go. She was an undocumented first-generation American college student who went on to serve as an RA in her residence hall and get involved in the Unity Multicultural Education Center to pursue her passions for social justice and inclusivity.
Related: Top 6 College Prep Steps for First-Generation Students
The benefits of reaching out to admission counselors
Taking the initiative to email or call an admission counselor at your colleges of interest allows you to build on your research on a more personal level. Send an introductory email and explain you’re a first-generation student thinking about applying to their school. Ask what tips they may have for you as you prepare to build a competitive admission application; this is one of the most meaningful interactions you can have with your counselor. Trust me, admission counselors are passionate about improving access to higher education for first-gen students and other students from underrepresented communities. While we see thousands of first-year applicants each year, counselors make the time to guide students who need it through the application process while being cognizant of your unique needs.
Connecting you with other opportunities
When you reach out to us, we want to connect you with other opportunities—financial aid and other resources that can specifically help you be successful now and in college. As you begin to get more comfortable with the admission counselors you’re working with, ask them to connect you with current students who have a similar background to yours as well, so you can hear about their college search experience and what the transition was like. What are some obstacles they faced? How do faculty, staff, and other students support them? These interactions will allow you to narrow down your college list even further.
Helping you plan your college visits
If you can, visiting college campuses is an excellent idea to help you get the surest sense of where you’d like to attend. It allows you to gain a better feel for academic and student life, and generally how you feel on campus. Schedule a visit online or call the school to sign up for a campus tour, class visit, faculty meeting, or open house event. There’s no cost or fee for you to participate in these events, but be mindful of the travel expenses you may incur, especially if you have to stay overnight when visiting a college away from home.
Before you schedule a visit, ask your admission counselor if there are visit programs that are specifically designed for first-generation students. Many colleges have fly-in programs and scholarships that will cover the cost of your travel expenses specifically for first-generation and underrepresented students to get to know campus, current college students, and the resources the school offers to support them. There is often an accompanying program for your family to attend, so feel comfortable sharing this important part of the college search process with them.
Related: 10 Things You Should Definitely Do on Every College Visit
The experience of each first-generation student is unique, and the college search process ought to serve those individual needs. Creating relationships with admission counselors at your top schools will empower you to gather the information you need so you can make well-informed decisions and be truly confident as you select the college where you can grow and achieve your goals.
We have plenty of advice to help you navigate the college search under our “first-generation students” tag. Empower yourself and your academic journey now!
