Bio:
Amber Leavey (she/her) is a senior at the University of Oregon, majoring in Psychology and Family and Human Services with a minor in Sociology. She is from Roseburg, Oregon. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga and art and hanging out with friends. After graduating, she would like to continue working with children and eventually continue her education in School Psychology.
Tips for First-Generation College Students by Amber Leavey
From my experience, being a first-generation college student comes with challenges that other students may not have to face. You are considered a first-generation student if you are the first in your family to attend and graduate from a four-year college/university. This can bring obstacles such as not knowing how to navigate college or financial aid along with feelings of confusion, anxiety, and self-doubt. The transition from high school to college can be difficult, but don’t be discouraged because there are so many resources available to help you succeed in college! In this blog post, I’ll give you some tips on navigating college as a first-generation college student. Even if you’re not a first-generation college student, this advice can still be helpful for you!
- Take advantage of the resources available to you
When I was a junior in high school, I joined Upward Bound which is a program that provides support to first-generation and low-income students who want to go to college. They offered tutoring, counseling, college prep classes, and other resources that helped me gain the motivation and skills to feel ready for college. They gave me the support that I needed to feel fully capable of attending a university. If I hadn’t joined this program, I would have struggled a lot more when preparing for college. I spent a lot of time at my high school’s College/Career Center, and I can’t emphasize enough how beneficial it was for me! Whether you need help with finding and applying for scholarships, filling out college applications, or figuring out which college you want to attend, I encourage you to take advantage of the College and Career Center; they are there to help you!
- Apply for scholarships
Being able to afford college was a huge concern of mine since I couldn’t get financial support from my parents. So I applied to a ton of scholarships, and I was awarded enough where I didn’t have to worry about financial aid as much. Even if you think you wouldn’t be awarded the scholarship, still apply! There were many scholarships that I applied for that I really didn’t think I would get, but I did. The OSAC is a super important application where you can apply for a bunch of scholarships at once. This is where I got my biggest scholarship, and it helped me so much. You can also apply every year in college! It might seem like a lot of work to apply for scholarships, but I promise it will be well worth it.
- Reach out to advisors
Advisors can be really helpful once you are in college, especially at the beginning when it’s hard to figure out which classes you need to take on your own. Many colleges have a range of academic advisors that can help you. At the University of Oregon for example, you can see an advisor from your major, or you can seek other advisors from places such as the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence (CMAE) that serve underrepresented and underserved populations. Advisors can also help you find other resources such as tutoring, counseling, etc. There are so many resources to help you, so be sure to take advantage of them!
- Get involved
Being a first-generation student can make you feel out of place in college, and making friends might be a big worry for you like it was for me. Joining clubs, student organizations, sports teams, etc. is a great way to make friends and build a support system. Feeling a sense of belonging is so important in college for first-generation students, so I encourage you to put yourself out there. When I was a freshman at the University of Oregon, I joined a FIG (first-year interest group) where I met my best friends who I now live with three years later! If I hadn’t joined this FIG, then I wouldn’t have met them, so don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone to meet new people. Also, don’t be discouraged if you don’t make friends right away, it can take time to find people that you mesh well with. Getting involved is a great way to start and you’re bound to find some people that will help you feel supported in college.
- Go to office hours
Your college workload will most likely be harder in college, so going to your professor’s office hours can be really helpful if you’re struggling in a class. Most professors are more than happy to help answer your questions since they want to see you succeed. And don’t be afraid to ask questions and advocate for yourself, they’re there to help you learn. You can also go to office hours even if you don’t have any questions about the class content. Getting to know your professors and building relationships with them is important because they can be a mentor and even write you letters of recommendation in the future. You can also learn more about their research if you’re interested in the topic of the class (especially if it’s a class in your major!), and you can learn more about future career opportunities in the field.
- Take care of your mental/physical health
College can definitely be stressful as a first-generation student, and if you don’t make time to take care of yourself, your mental and/or physical health can suffer. Even when you might be busy, it’s important to make time for yourself to de-stress. When you don’t practice self-care, it’s easy to feel exhausted, burnt out, and want to give up on your classes/responsibilities. Any kind of activity that makes you feel better after a stressful day will help! For example, I like to spend time with my friends to de-stress as well as do yoga or draw. Other self-care activities could be journaling, exercise, meditation, going outside, etc. Find what self-care activities work for you and make time in your schedule for them. Seeking help from counseling services can also be beneficial when you are struggling with your mental health. There is no shame at all in seeking help, and I encourage you to do so! Many colleges offer a variety of free counseling/therapy services for students that can help you feel supported and better able to take care of yourself.
I hope these tips help you navigate college like they helped me! College might seem intimidating, especially as a first-generation student, but there are tons of people and resources available to help you succeed! Being the first in your family to attend college is a huge accomplishment, so I commend you for your hard work to get here. I hope you take these tips and have a great college experience!