HELPING FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOLS

It is a fact that only 11% of low income first generation students earn a bachelor's degree in the USA (Pell Institute, 2001). What does this mean? It means that there is still an educational divide between the wealthy and the poor. First generation students are students whose parents never attended college.

These students have some challenges when they have to make decisions about attending college.

1. Their parents don't know where to access information about colleges. Their ability to research into colleges is reduced and some of these children who are very brilliant find themselves in the wrong schools due to the lack of knowledge about the schools.

2. They do not know the right questions to ask about the college such as the cost of tuition, scholarships, loans, graduation rates, retention rates, career opportunities/assistance, internships, graduate employment rates, academic support, etc.

Navigating the college system can be a big distress for the student and family. Some students have to carry the burden and label of being a first generation student. They carry the guilt of draining the family of their merger income and the need to perform and succeed to bring pride to the family. 

What do these students need? They need to have:

• Mentors from college students
• Mentors from relations who are in or have been to college.
• Good school counselors 
• Encouragement from the family
• Support from college academic counselors and student support services.
• They must be taught how to navigate the college system; where to find tutorial help; interships and career assistance; how to apply for scholarships; where to find psychological and mental help in times of stress, etc.

Doing these will help the first generation student to succeed and to break the cycle of poverty in the family.