Making the Most of the Summer Before College
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Congratulations graduates! Completing high school and getting into college are huge achievements, and…
Overcoming the Obstacles and Fears of Being a First-Generation Student
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Applying Applying to colleges was by far the hardest part for me throughout…
Melting Away: Avoid the dreaded Summer Melt!
On Thursday, June 19th, 2014 we had a Google+ Hangout on ways to avoid the dreaded phenomenon of summer melt! Although school is out and…
Failure is Not an Option: How I Earned A Degree and Found a Passion for Education
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. My name is Dr. Eric Lara, and you just watched the beginning of…
Creating, Harnessing and Cultivating Inspiration as a First-Generation Student
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. One thing that my college career thus far has taught me is that…
Catching Up..
I want to give up sometimes. School is just too hard right now. I probably shouldn't have started this blog post off with that sentence,…
Packing for College
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College Plan for the Long Haul When packing for college, it’s important to remember…
How To: Visiting Campus or Can't Get to Campus?
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College Visiting Campus No matter how many brochures you read or websites you visit,…
Standardized Tests: What’s in a Score?
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College Most four-year colleges and universities require students to submit standardized test scores. Primarily,…
Courage Through Support: My First-Generation Story at Merrimack
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. The Beginning Throughout my life sports always came before anything else, including school.…
Placement Tests: The Gateway to First-Year Courses
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College As a high school student, you’re probably no stranger to taking tests. Chances…
Opportunity Knocks: First Year Experience & Transition
Click here to view the May Opportunity Knocks newsletter featuring First Year Experience & Transition opportunities at: Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, Transitional Year Program (TYP)…
Finding Strength in First-Generation Status
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. I was the first in my family to attend college. My parents never…
Your College Success Strategy: 5 Tactics from a First-Gen Student
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Take it from someone who knows: adapting to college life can be a…
Being a Low-income, First-generation Student at an Elite College
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. I never expected a student like me to struggle in college. I graduated…
College Shopping: Finding The Best Fit For You
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. There are two approaches to shopping: hope something stands out as you browse…
A Simple Inequality: Procrastination < Discipline
Procrastination. It’s a word that we students are all too familiar with. We find every excuse not to do an assignment, study for a test,…
Stay Focused
The last semester of senior year of high school is one of the most fun times ever. You are about to graduate, most people have…
First-Generation Students in Today's College Society: From Disconnect to Engagement
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. I have been reflecting lately on what it means to be a college…