First Generation College Students
In the United States, 15 million students are enrolled in postsecondary institutions. About 30% (4.5 million) of those students come from low-income families where that student is the first in their family to attend college. These students may be exposed to a new experience that their parents never had to endeavor. They are at higher risk of not having the emotional and/or financial support they need to graduate. In fact, only a minuscule 11% of these students are expected to obtain a bachelor’s degree within six years. This average is well below the not first-generation student average graduation rate of 55%. This means 89% of students will drop out and will not finish college. These students deserve the emotional and financial support it takes to succeed in obtaining a college degree.
Organizations are set up to help mentor college students to succeed in the classroom and in their independent lifestyle as well as provide financial support if the students families’ may not be able to cover the cost themselves. Jessycas Simerly, a college student from Tusculum College, shared her story with Student Aid Alliance about her struggles with paying for college. Her mother worked as a clerk and her father was out of the picture. Her family had to go through difficult times without water and/ or electricity. She learned that there was federal financial aid available for her, so she was able to receive a higher education. She found the college of her dreams, Tusculum College. However, she feared that she would not qualify for enough grants and scholarships to cover her tuition for the time it would take her to obtain her bachelor's degree. She did, however, receive enough money to go to college and is currently on her way to becoming a college professor. Jessycas acknowledged If she had not received the funds available she would have dropped out and would be stuck working at a dead-end job.
Statistics show that first-generation college students have the lowest rates of earning college degrees because they may not have the support system emotionally and/or financially as other students. First Generation Foundation was created to support students who are the first in their families to attend college. First Generation Foundation assesses college bound students who are first generation students to identify what support those students need. They also provide financial support through scholarships and emotional assistance through focus groups, facilitated campus sessions, counseling, staff workshops, cross-campus conversations, and forums.
In conclusion, many first generation students come from low-income families. They are at risk financially and emotionally of not successfully completing a college education. These students are the pioneers in their family who can help break themselves out of the poverty cycle. These students symbolize the American dream by proving that someone can be successful in this country despite all the obstacles they may need to overcome. Therefore, these students need the support to go on and earn their college degrees because many individuals currently do not have the resources that they need for a successful college experience. It is reassuring to know organizations are available to meet the needs of these students both financially and emotionally. Because everyone should have the opportunity to pursue the career and lifestyle that they desire.
Works Cited
"First Generation Foundation." First Generation Foundation. First Generation Foundation, n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.firstgenerationfoundation.org/>.
Simerly, Jessycas. "Jessycas Simerly, Tusculum College." Student Aid Alliance.com. Student Aid Alliance, 13
June 2015. Web. 5 Mar. 2016. <http://studentaidalliance.org/category/student-stories/>.
"Types of Aid." Federal Student Aid. N.p., 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.
<https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types>.