Blog
Find advice and follow the college experiences of our current first-gen student bloggers.
Welcome 2013!!
Happy New Year everyone!! I want to wish everyone the best on this incoming year, and I hope it brings many good things to all of you! But don't forget the FAFSA! Apart from being New Year's Day, I have also branded January 1 FAFSA Day, that way I never forget! I...
Resources on a Silver Platter
How hard is it to ask for help? Impossible, huh! Why is everyone so scared about admitting that they need guidance? Asking for help does not make you weak. Nor does it make you inferior. In fact, taking the initiative to ask for help says a lot about your character....
Have you gone mad?
Your first semester in college will be overwhelming. There is no doubt about it. Your ability to succeed is not the concern – your passion and your persistence will help you dominate your first semester. There are other factors, however, that are more concerning....
Santa Jerry's Gifts
My first semester here was quite a mess actually. I was homesick during the semester, sleeping at unusual times, struggling to remember everyone’s names (hey, it’s hard!), as well as trying to keep up with the course work. And then what happened was I left an apple...
Applying For Financial Aid: the FAFSA
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. How to Apply for Financial Aid with the FAFSA To apply for financial aid, you should start by filling out the FAFSA. First, and most importantly, the FAFSA is free to fill...
Who Gets Scholarships? How Can You Find Them?
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. The Who, What and How of Scholarships As you apply to college, you also should be thinking about searching for scholarships. Many of the largest national scholarships will...
What if I'm Undocumented, Homeless, or in Foster Care?
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. If You’re Undocumented If you are an undocumented student you can attend college. There is no federal or state law that prohibits your admission to any U.S. college...
Courses for College Entry
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. English (or Language Arts) A typical English curriculum will focus on important works of British and American literature and poetry, and also will build your vocabulary,...
Get the Support You Need
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Find a Mentor A huge part of creating this support network is the act of finding a mentor. Mentors are adults who can guide you with wisdom and understanding. You could have...
How to Choose Between and Prepare for the SAT and ACT
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Which Tests Should I Take? This is typically a personal choice for each student (although there are a few states that make the choice easier, by requiring students to take...