Blog
Find advice and follow the college experiences of our current first-gen student bloggers.
sb2k14
Perhaps it’s the dominant football culture at the University of Georgia, but fall semesters are consistently invigorating and packed with excitement and frequent celebrations and breaks. Conversely, spring semester seems to drag along. The unfamiliar, bitter cold and...
Holiday Plans and School Work
This morning, when I opened my eyes and looked out of my bedroom window, I groaned. The sky outside was a dark, puffy gray, and I could hear the pattering of raindrops on the roof above my head. I'm not particularly fond of the cold, but I deplore being cold and wet....
The “I’m Still in High School” Sticker
I'm on a mission. While walking around the campus of my dream college, I try to blend in with all the college students to get a feel of what life is like at the University. As it nears lunchtime, I eagerly join a crowd of hungry students and walk into the dining hall...
College Programs Help First-Gen Students Make the Transition
In previous blog posts, we’ve talked about how the transition to college can be difficult for first generation students. There are plenty of obstacles – financial, logistical and otherwise. But, in his article, Geri Coleman Tucker explores some of the exciting ways...
Change is a Constant in College: A New Semester, A New Set of Challenges
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. My second semester has brought a new set of challenges because my academic course load is very different than the load I carried in the fall. Last semester I took four...
Studying Abroad: Too Expensive for Some College Students? Think Again!
Studying abroad is often regarded as one of the most life-changing experiences that a college student can have. Experiencing a new culture firsthand can transform a student’s worldview, and help him or her gain a deeper understanding of American culture as well. The...
Living to see another day
Let me tell you, midterms week is one hell of a week. ....But I survived them, so it's definitely within the realm of possible. Typically professors space out their exams around the same schedule. So you can expect to be attacked with midterm after midterm in a day or...
A First-Gen Evaluates Career Options: Tackling Educational Inequality Through Teaching
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Part of my motivation for pursuing a college degree is the opportunity to give back to the community that has given me so much. This has also been a crucial factor in the...
Opportunity Knocks: Summer Bridge & Orientation
Click here to view the March Opportunity Knocks newsletter featuring Summer Bridge & Orientation opportunities at: Amherst College, Amherst, MA, Access to Amherst Brown University, Providence, RI, Fall Pre-Orientation Programs College of Charleston, Charleston, SC,...
From First Gen Student to First Gen Grad Student
In their article, “From First Gen Student to First Gen Grad Student,” Alicia Peaker and Katie Shives discuss their experience in going from first generation college students to first generation graduate students, (or “FGGS”). While many of the challenges are...