Blog
Find advice and follow the college experiences of our current first-gen student bloggers.
Why Private Colleges and Universities Are a Better Fit than You Think
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. You're smart. You're motivated. You want to go to a top college, but the price tag of a private college makes it seem impossible. How can anyone afford $55,000 a year or...
There's More to College than Classes – Get Involved On Campus!
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. You worked hard, did well in high school, applied to some colleges and got in. Now you are a freshman ready to start your career as a college student. You already chose your...
A Valentine's Day Tribute: How I Met My Friends
I knew her, but she didn’t know me. Alexia had posted on the UVA Class of 2017 Facebook group over the summer with a link to her Youtube channel. Her cover of “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver was amazing. When I saw her in the dining hall that Tuesday afternoon, I instantly...
Opportunity Knocks: Pre-College Summer Experience
Click here to view the February Opportunity Knocks newsletter featuring Pre-College Summer Experience opportunities at: Boston University, Boston, MA Summer Pathways Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, Collegiate Awareness and Preparation Program...
Budgeting beats breaking the bank
A lot of us have heard about the starving college freshman, right? You have no idea how true that can be for a lot of college students. I attend a college where the vast majority of the students are well off and able to pay four years worth of tuition in one single...
College Dividends
As a first generation college student from a low-income household, I always have difficulty adjusting to the cost of my college education. Each year the cost of tuition; and room and board increases by approximately $3,000. Additional expenses, such as the cost of...
WATCH: First Lady Michelle Obama's "I'm First" Story
Wow! FLOTUS -- a.k.a. the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama and first-generation college graduate -- shared her story with the I'm First project! "Neither of my parents graduated from college…But I learned pretty quickly that I had what it took to succeed...
Re-Thinking My Commitments & Planning for Summer Internships
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. A lot has happened in the course of the past two months, since I last blogged about my experiences in college. Since then, winter break has come and gone, classes have begun...
Getting Free Money for College
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College Getting Free Money for College By Mary Williams Now is the time for you to prepare for applying to competitive scholarship programs. Consider these steps: 1. Set goals. Develop short- and long-term goals...
Attitude
Wake up, 7:32 AM Can't believe it's time to do it over again.. Yep, it’s the first day of classes. Not only is it extremely early, but also it’s also -4 degrees outside. Now, I’ll be the first one to admit that I would rather crawl back in my bed. Always. No questions...