3 Tips for First-Generation College Students

By Kaitlin Hurtado on August 30, 2017

College could very well be your first major step to adulthood — it’s new, unfamiliar, and exciting.

Being a first-generation college student, however, can amplify those feelings of excitement and/or anxiety when it comes to the uncertainty that college brings. We do not have the benefit of having our parents to guide us through the college process — the people that we would go to first for help in any other situation aren’t an option when we look for someone to help us with college applications, picking classes, and any other college advice.

Being “in the dark” when it comes to college can make the experience much more daunting. It’s our first time going through it, and we don’t have our parents to give us advice on what to do and what not to do like they did when it came to earlier education. We’re scared to go about things wrong, we’re scared to make mistakes, and many are scared to even look to others for help.

Being a first-generation college student can definitely be scary, but never let it hold you back. Someone has to be the first to go to college and graduate. Mistakes are bound to happen and make perfect learning experiences. Embrace being a first-generation college student and make the experience less daunting by looking at the following tips.

Develop a support system — and keep it

Just like how you thought high school was stressful at the time, college will be the same. Just as you went to your close friends or family for comfort in high school, doing the same in college will do wonders. My favorite thing to do when I was stressed was call my mom and talk the situation out, be it me not getting into the classes I wanted, not doing so well on an exam, or a problem getting out of hand at work. At the same time, it was great to also have people to celebrate my accomplishments with, like doing well on an exam, a job interview that turned out well, etc.

Being able to text my best friend back home whenever — whether it was to send a picture that made me think of them or just to catch up — was a mood-booster and definitely helped me battle homesickness by talking to someone from back home. At the same time, you may feel like you are losing touch with those back home. Make an effort to talk to your family — it doesn’t have to be every day, but make sure you let them know you think of them because they are surely thinking of you.

Don’t limit yourself by making up your support system of only those close to home; reach out to those that are going to school with you. If you’re living on campus, talk to your suitemates and hallmates. Talk to those in your classes. Join clubs that actually interest you and mingle with those that have common interests. Chances are, you’ll run into many first-generation college students going through the same experience as you and have the same thoughts and struggles. Bring them into your support system because they would value you as a friend just as much as you value them.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help (find a mentor!)

One of my least favorite aspects of starting out college as a first-generation college student was the likelihood of me getting something “wrong.” There were so many things to be done and experienced, and as I went to do each one, I was scared that I was going to mess up my whole college career by one small little mistake.

Scheduling classes was rough — I had no idea what requirements to tackle first, how many units were enough, if morning or afternoon classes were better. I was terrified to use the resources and help offered, even during orientation when there was an academic counselor at the ready with handouts for nearly everything.

I tried to go through everything myself, only to realize I was too in over my head and went to ask for help anyway. Looking back, I should have just sought out help to begin with — and you should too. While it is perfectly acceptable to stick to yourself and figure things out on your own, why not take advantage of the resources that are readily available for you and make your college experience so much easier?

I found that asking for help, whether it be a fellow student or an academic counselor, made me more sure of myself and my decisions, especially when I had input from others going through the same experience, those who had gone through the same experience, or those that had done extensive research on the issue I was dealing with.

Likewise, finding a mentor in some form is helpful to you as a first-generation college student. There are plenty of organizations on campus that organize some type of mentor relationship.

For example, the school for my major organized peer mentor groups, where one upperclassman was matched to mentor a group of five or fewer freshmen. As a mentee in the program, I gained a mentor that helped me with scheduling classes, gave me advice on what organizations would suit me, etc. It also made it a lot easier to meet freshmen and people in my major, along with accessing resources that would make my college experience much easier.

Get involved 

Fully embrace being a college student and take time to get involved on campus, whether it’s joining a club or writing for the school paper. There is definitely something for everyone on campus and it may be the first booth you see at Welcome Week or even something you stumble on by walking into the wrong room.

Start by thinking of your personal interest — music, dance, science, culture — and start matching them to clubs. If you’ve always wanted to join a dance team, go for it. If you want to pick up a language or continue practicing, join a cultural club that will help you practice the language constantly.

Getting involved helps you destress, develop a social life, and get that “college experience” as you experience the things you personally pick — classes, clubs, friends — to make the experience your own.

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