Navigating college

Being the first in your family to attend college is a huge feat that I’ve realized is often not acknowledged as such by first-gen college students. Imposter syndrome can play a huge role in the way people perceive themselves, and I’ve had to actively make it my...

Winter Break and FAFSA Forms: A First-Gen’s Guide

When it comes to the FAFSA, it is something that can either bring dread, exasperation, or great joy. It’s a time when you apply for aid towards your college education, but it’s also a time that can bring much stress or discomfort if you are unfamiliar with...

What Being a First-Gen Student Means to Me

When I sat down to write this, I had to reflect on the term that has shaped a significant portion of my education, especially my college journey. First-generation. I believe being a first-generation (first-gen for short) student means I am the first in my family to...

Balancing Extracurriculars in the New Academic Year

As we dive into a new academic year, one of the hardest parts is readjusting to the study grind after the summer. Whether summer means hanging out with friends, taking courses, or working a job, it is always nice to be back on-campus filled with the chatter of...

Tips for Letters of Rec

Asking for a letter of recommendation can be intimidating, especially as a first-year. Most classes are larger, and there isn’t quite a strong faculty-to-student relationship, given that you’ve only known them for a semester, and for some, it takes time to come out of...

Financial Aid Frenzy

College applications will have you looking everywhere, and one of the most complex parts of it can be the financial aspect of it. Nearly three years ago, during my senior fall, I remembered going through the hoops of deciphering tax returns, emailing schools, and...