A first-generation student (also known as first-scholars) is a college student whose parents do not have a bachelor's degree. Here are some typical struggles of being a first-gen.
1. You're not given starting options
The first step in choosing a college is getting a decent number of options to then narrow down from. Parents who did attend college can list off to their children why the college in which they're alumni of is the best, giving a potential option. First-gen students don't have this opportunity (even though it'd probably get annoying after a while, it's quick info as to why insert college here would be good for you).
2. Parents don't understand the process
If your parent(s) did not receive a higher education, there's a decent chance they did not even apply to college. In this case, the steps of writing essays, submitting the application, and doing FAFSA is confusing to them. Thus, if you yourself are confused, their assistance isn't an option.
3. Dorm materials
On top of the average parent not knowing what materials your specific college provides for your room, first-gen students' parents are really out of it. I appreciate your concern Mom, but no, I don't think I will need a toaster, even though they're not allowed anyways.
4. Money
Obviously, those who don't go to college typically earn less than those who did. So, having neither parent obtain any degree, the income can be scarce. This makes it harder to pay for college out of pocket, even with things such as scholarships, grants, and loans.
5. Separation
First-gen students' parents did not experience leaving home at eighteen (at least for college). If you live in dorms, especially somewhat far from your home, your parents will experience a kind of separation that they can't relate to, since they never had to separate from their parents to receive a higher education.
6. People thinking your parents are unintelligent
Nothing is ruder regarding people who haven't gone to college with the assumption that they're dumb. Just because someone's parents didn't go to college does not make them, or their parents, dumb. For example, my mom wanted to go to college, but her mom passed away. Her dad was an alcoholic and kicked her out after she graduated high school because she confronted his drinking. She was left with no money and had to work a full time, and a part-time job in turn.
7. Feeling the need to out perform everyone else
Since there is such a stigma around first-gen college students (their intelligence, ability to get good grades and function in a college setting) many of us feel the need to exceed those who aren't first gen students; trying to prove that just because we come from a different area we can still do better.
8. Spending breaks from school working
Not to say by any means those who aren't first-gen have an easy life, but more often than first-gen students they're given more opportunities for vacations on breaks. Due to the money factor, it can be more imperative for first-gen students to work as much as they can when not at school.
9. Trying to explain things to them
Credit hours, advisors, office hours of professors; these are just some of the things that you realize they don't just automatically understand.
10. Wanting to graduate for your parents
Besides my internal desire to graduate (for obvious reasons) I want to do it for my parents. To show them that even though they weren't given the chance to go to college, they worked so hard I could have the opportunity to succeed.
Even though there are struggles with being a first-generation student, we wouldn't change it for the world.
