Are you the first person in your family to attend college? Have you ever felt unsure of how to navigate and be successful in this new journey in your life? Congratulations on being a first-generation student! While there are many benefits to being the first person in your family to attend college, it can also come with some challenges and obstacles along the way. This article has been written to provide you with some tips and resources to help set you up for success in your collegiate journey.
Tip #1: Get to Know Your Resources
There are plenty of places on campus that you can go to get all kinds of assistance! Take advantage of them! Here are a few:
- Student Engagement and Career Development (SECD)
- SECD is a great resource for any needs related to self-exploration and your career journey
- The Thrive Center
- The Thrive Center provides tailored support for underrepresented, low-income, and/or first-generation students
- Disability Resource Center (DRC)
- The DRC helps students obtain the accessible accommodations they need
- LifeLab
- LifeLab is your first stop in your career journey. Either in-person or online, it’s a friendly and caring place to get 1:1 support for getting connected on campus and to get recommendations for career and major-related resources. It’s a great place to ask questions and make plans for your next step.
- Think Tank
- Think Tank provides many free resources like tutoring and skills workshops to contribute to your academic success
- SALT Center
- The SALT center provides fee based academic support for students
Tip #2: Get Involved on Campus
Joining clubs and organizations on campus can can help you find a community and make connections with other students on campus!
Tip #3: Never Compare Yourself or Your Journey to Other Students
Everyone’s journey is different. For first-generation students, each person will likely experience different opportunities and obstacles in college.
Tip #4: Find a Mentor
Having the support of someone who has already gone through similar experiences can be crucial to your success. A mentor can assist you with best practices and strategies. This could be a student, faculty member, alumni, advisor, or another professional that can help you to navigate collegiate experiences.
- The Thrive Center has a great mentor program for you to get support from a peer
- You can check out the Bear Down Network to find an alumni mentor
Tip #5: Be Open to Different Strategies
There are a lot of different approaches you can take! Be willing and open to trying various approaches until you find the one(s) that help you to reach your goals!
Tip #6: Believe in Yourself
You’ve got this! Be confident in your skills and your ability to be successful in this venture. Even though it is a new experience for you, remember to stay optimistic.
Tip #7: Develop a Support Network
College can be stressful! It’s important to find and establish a network of individuals you can tap into for support. This can be family, friends, mentors, or anyone else that you can talk and vent to. An essential component in your support network is to connect with people who will support you and motivate you in your journey to achieving your educational goals.
Tip #8: Embrace Challenges
As a first-generation student, there will likely be obstacles that you will face. Try your best to embrace and face them with an open mind and consider them as learning opportunities. Remember: there is no growth without some discomfort.
Tip #9: Prioritize Self-Care
College, and the work that comes with it, can be a lot. It’s important to take care of yourself and your mental health so you don’t get burnt out.
- You can always use CAPS as a resource if you need it
Tip #10 : Give Yourself Grace
It will take some time for you to find best practices and strategies that will work the best to help you be successful. Be patient with yourself as you navigate your time and find what works for you. It’s okay to ask for help.
Remember that this is YOUR journey. It will not look exactly like that of your peers or any other people around you. Being a first-generation student means there is a lot of trial and error, especially when you do not have support from someone who has done this already. It is crucial to take advantage of campus resources and networks and refer to the tips and resources listed here. You are going to do great; we’re rooting for you!
TL/DR:
First-generation College Students: Top Ten Tips For Success:
- Get to know your resources.
- Get involved on campus.
- Never compare yourself to others.
- Find a mentor.
- Be open to different strategies.
- Believe in yourself.
- Develop a support network.
- Embrace challenges.
- Prioritize self-care.
- Give yourself grace.
