A first-generation college student (FGCS) is a student who does not have a parent that has received a college degree. If your grandparents have obtained a college degree but both your parents did not, then you would still be considered a first-generation student. This is the only qualifier that determines first-generation status, but income levels are also very closely tied to this designation.
Deciding to attend college when the parents are unable to understand the challenges that face the student can be very hard. There are support programs found at the individual college level that help students through emotional, financial, academic and professional support. One such program is called the TRiO program, which serves first-generation and low-income students. They can provide tutoring, scheduling, financial planning and personal help to their students. However, they may not be available on all campuses. There may be other programs available at a specific college; contact a college representative for more details.
Many first-generation students do not have the financial resources to be able to pay for a college education on their own. Parents usually are working from paycheck to paycheck because they themselves do not have a higher education that usually translates to higher overall pay. Due to this scenario, many students in this category find themselves needing financial assistance to pay for college. Some options are Pell Grants, Stafford and Perkins Student Loans, private loans and scholarships. Scholarships are found in various regions, fields of study, need-based or merit-based. Some of these scholarships are set aside just for first-generation students. Contact a financial-aid advisor at the school the student wishes to attend to learn about specific scholarships and their requirements.
One major trait that is seen with many first-generation students is that they tend to come from households with less income to contribute to the student's education. This poses common problems, such as working while going to school, family responsibilities, feeling of guilt, embarrassment and lack of knowledge of the college system. Some students might feel the need to work while attending college to afford a higher education. Often when this happens, grades are lower and more stress is introduced to the student than her non-first generation counterparts. A feeling of guilt may arise from being the only one attending college while the rest of the family might be struggling to pay the bills. These issues are common for this group and should be considered when trying to give advice to a first-generation student. Trying to find an organization on campus to share experiences, even if they are through social media outlets, is a good way for students to express themselves and find a sense of belonging.