An Examination of High-Achieving First-Generation College Students From Low-Income Backgrounds

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Hébert
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Family Adversity ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
University Experiences ◽  
High Achieving ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The University

Experiences of 10 high-achieving first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds were the focus of this qualitative research study. Family adversity and difficult personal experiences during adolescence were major themes; however, students benefitted from emotionally supportive K-12 educators and academic rigor in high school. Sustained family pride helped to keep them focused on reaching their goals, as well as intellectual engagement at the university, and influential mentors. The 10 participants developed a strong sense of purpose at the university and graduated well prepared for careers and graduate school. Implications of the findings are presented along with suggestions for designing effective university experiences for talented first-generation students.

“Listen to the Feedback of Students”: First-Generation College Students Voice Inequalities in Schooling Brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512110663
Author(s):  
Cassandra R. Davis ◽  
Harriet Hartman ◽  
Milanika Turner ◽  
Terri Norton ◽  
Julie Sexton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Students First ◽  
Return To College ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

In March 2020, the higher-education community faced one of its largest disruptions to date with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing campuses to close their doors to thousands of students. The university-wide closures prompted a collaboration between researchers and college administrators to assess the impact of COVID-19 on First-Generation College Students (FGCS). The team surveyed 659 FGCS across five U.S. universities to assess the ways in which the pandemic exacerbated already existing inequalities students faced in their persistence to graduate from college. The team used the social cognitive career theory as a conceptual framework for analysis. Our findings revealed that when respondents compared their life before COVID-19 with their present state, FGCS were less likely to perceive they had enough money to return to college, felt overwhelmed and lonely by added stress, and were more likely to see an increase in family responsibilities.

College Dollars and Sense

2016 ◽  
pp. 179-198
Author(s):  
Jessica D. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Financial Aid ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Planning Tools ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Tuition Costs

HBCU's were founded to address the needs of low income, first generation college students. However, rising tuition costs, tighter loan restrictions and poor institutional financial aid planning tools are hindering students from matriculating within the HBCU system. Radical solutions such as pre-financial aid debt tracking programs aimed at entering freshman, federal loan modification options, and a pro-active shift of equipping students are needed to adequately address these issues. This chapter will discuss the most prevalent financial aid issues facing HBCU students, as well as present viable debt reduction solutions.

scholarly journals Understanding College “Burnout” from a Social Perspective: Reigniting the Agency of Low-Income Racial Minority Strivers Towards Achievement

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anindya Kundu
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Minority Student ◽  
Racial Minority ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Barriers To Entry ◽  
Campus Environment ◽  
Academic Settings ◽  
First Generation College

Research indicates that health problems are becoming increasingly complex and prevalent among college students, while largely going without recognition or treatment. Low-income racial minority students may have additional personal and academic issues associated with demonstrating grit and overcoming barriers to entry (i.e. institutional racism) over the course of their lives. When the campus environment is not socially or culturally supportive of racial minority and first-generation college students, there is an added risk of mental health deterioration stemming from isolation for these students. The struggle to persist in college, and do so alone, can lead many to experience symptoms of impending “burnout,” or disengagement from academic settings. Drawing from a sample of interviews with low-income racial minority strivers—students who were once highly engaged—this paper offers insight into both causes and solutions for college burnout. Findings suggest that it is important to understand how experiences of isolation manifest to better support minority student populations and foster their academic reengagement to achieve at high levels. This paper outlines recommendations for improving the college experiences of racial minority and first-generation students, including examples of resources and recommendations to improve the higher education landscape towards more inclusivity and equity.

Addressing the Sophomore Slump: First-Generation College Students’ Completion of Year Two of Study in a Rural Bachelor’s Degree Granting College

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512110148
Author(s):  
Davina Capik ◽  
Matthew Shupp
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Bachelor's Degree ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Sophomore Slump ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The University ◽  
Persistence Toward Graduation

There is limited research on the experiences of first-generation students who have completed their second year and enrolled for a third year in order to continue their studies even though this population of students are the most likely to drop out of college in their second year. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how current first-generation college students, who are enrolled or completed the second semester of their sophomore year, experience college as a first-generation student and made the decision to persist toward completing their bachelor’s degree. Through first-hand accounts of participants’ experiences of their time at the university, this study highlights what factors students contributed to their persistence toward graduation. The findings have the potential to facilitate a deeper understanding of what stakeholders working with first-generation college students can do to assist in retention efforts of this population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document