Transitioning to College: Experiences of Successful  First-Generation College Students

This qualitative study explored the high school to college transition experiences of ten successful first-generation college students (FGCS). Participants were college seniors at an historically black university in the United States. A generic qualitative research design was used, including in-depth, semi-structured interviews to collect and analyze data. Participants reported that the transition experience led to confusion with academic and financial procedures, various emotions including anxiety and fear, the realization that they had deficits in academic skills, and the receipt of support from family members and others. Cultural and social capital appeared to play key roles in their success. Student affairs professionals are encouraged to explore targeted, individualized strategies that meet the needs of FGCS as they transition to college.

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First generation college students demographic, socio-economic status, academic experience, successes, and challenges at pharmacy schools in the United States

Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning ◽

10.1016/j.cptl.2017.11.016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 307-315 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Serge A. Afeli ◽

Tynesha A. Houchins ◽

Nieka S. Jackson ◽

Jacqueline Montoya

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

College Students ◽

First Generation ◽

Economic Status ◽

The United States ◽

First Generation College Students ◽

Academic Experience ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

First Generation College ◽

Successes And Challenges

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Studying Attrition and Degree Completion Behavior among First-Generation College Students in the United States

The Journal of Higher Education ◽

10.1353/jhe.2006.0042 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 77 (5) ◽

pp. 861-885 ◽

Cited By ~ 178

Author(s):

Terry T. Ishitani

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

College Students ◽

Degree Completion ◽

First Generation ◽

The United States ◽

First Generation College Students ◽

First Generation College

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A Typology of Supports for First Generation College Students in the U.S.

Handbook of Research on Administration, Policy, and Leadership in Higher Education - Advances in Educational Marketing, Administration, and Leadership ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-0672-0.ch014 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 348-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brooke Midkiff ◽

Leslie Grinage

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Degree Completion ◽

First Generation ◽

The United States ◽

First Generation College Students ◽

Colleges And Universities ◽

Government Support ◽

Level Of Education ◽

First Generation College ◽

The U.S

First generation college students, students who are the first in their families to enroll in college, are a unique group, in that their parents' level of education in addition to their race, gender, or socioeconomic status, is an indicator of persistence to degree completion. While colleges and universities have historically created programs to assist this group, those initiatives have ranged in purpose, level of institutional and/or government support, and intended audience. This chapter develops a typology of the support programs that currently exist to serve first generation college students attending four-year colleges and universities in the United States. It begins by exploring the academic and financial challenges many first generation college students face, and concludes by offering recommendations that institutional policymakers can implement to expand the possibilities for improving the success of this distinctive group of students.

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Resilience Through Family: Family Support as an Academic and Psychological Protective Resource for Mexican Descent First-Generation College Students

Journal of Hispanic Higher Education ◽

10.1177/1538192720987103 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 153819272098710

Author(s):

Amber Jimenez ◽

Brandy Piña-Watson ◽

Gabriela Manzo

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Family Support ◽

First Generation ◽

College Persistence ◽

The United States ◽

First Generation College Students ◽

Mexican Descent ◽

Familial Support ◽

First Generation College

The present study examines the potential protective effect of familial support among first-gen Mexican descent college students regarding GPA, college persistence, and depressive symptoms. Participants included 487 Mexican descent college students from across the United States (66.7% first-gen). Results indicated that being a first-gen student was not related to the outcomes; however, family support was related to better academic and psychological outcomes (lower depressive symptoms and higher college persistence) regardless of generation status.

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First-Generation College Students in an Undergraduate Social Welfare Program: Issues, Interventions, and Implications

Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work ◽

10.18084/1084-7219.6.1.37 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 37-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John Q. Hodges

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Social Work ◽

Social Welfare ◽

First Generation ◽

The United States ◽

First Generation College Students ◽

First Generation Students ◽

Social Welfare Program ◽

Welfare Program ◽

First Generation College

First-generation students are the first in their family to attend college. Prior research has found them to be academically at-risk. This case study examined a group of first-generation college students enrolled in an undergraduate social welfare program (N = 42). The results indicate that these first-generation students were more likely to be older, male, Hispanic, and to have parents who are non-citizens of the United States. However, this study did not find high rates of social isolation, or deficiencies in academic achievement or graduate school aspirations, as reported in the literature. Further research is needed to determine rates of first-generation students in social work undergraduate programs nationwide, their risk for freshman-year attrition, and the need for interventions to retain this diverse segment of the social work student body.

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