First Generation First Year of College

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 in college.
Attend freshmen orientation. Most colleges have freshmen orientations during the summer before the new school year begins. 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.

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.

Make friends with upperclassmen. Having a mentor in college to show you the ropes can be a big help. Finding an upperclassmen 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.

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.

Review all of the entries about campus life on this blog. Planning for college and adapting to campus life can be hard for first generation college students but still very achievable. If you want more tips for first generation students or have any questions, please contact your high school counselor or the Student Services department at your college.