First Generation Students Essay

But now since some schools are very expensive and tuition costs rising fast a college student is more dependent on loans. While wealthier students are able to go to college for longer periods of time students from lower or poor families are not able to pay for classes or college itself. Lower-income students, if they are able to pay for college, are not able to obtain the larger degrees the higher income students are able to while they are only able to get the smaller degrees. The authors state this by saying, “Fewer than 60 percent of students who enter four-year schools finish within six years, and for lower-income students it’s even worse.” (page 218, para

Some people carry the responsibility of repaying student loans well into their adulthood. The writer suggests these people should consider a different pathway in order to not deal with that responsibility. Even if financial difficulties can possibly be taken care of, college brings on rigorous academic challenges as well. Not every student is equipped with the skills to succeed in college; in fact, Pharinet states that, “there are students who cannot read attending college” (Pharinet 680). Although a rare case, it completely goes against the idea that college is for everyone.

As stated before, Miller was once a project director for the Pew-sponsored National Forum on college level learning from 2002-2004, and a Curry School of Education professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She has experience in this area, as well as research from which conducted for a national education forum. In this work, Miller provides outside sources to represent families who do not have parents who attended college to compare to her own experiences, as well as the data she provides. Miller also uses: charts produced by Tom Mortenson, data released by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), all credible sources. This essay appeals strongly to ethos.

This research paper examines the factors first generation Hmong American college students encounter while pursuing completion of higher education. Existing studies shows that many Hmong American college students encounter struggles with families’ language barriers (Lee 4), differences in cultural expectations (Vang 2), and finical issue. The struggles they face shows on the Hmong American college students academics (Vang 2). Introduction Vocabulary Hmong: Hmong are a group from the mountains of China, Laos, and Vietnam.

In addition, Ryan Padgett (2012) found that first generation student seems to be more unprepared to interact with faculty upon entering college than students whose parents went to college (p.261). The disadvantage a first-generation student faces upon entering college is due to the lack of contact with individuals who fall outside their parent’s social

As a graduating senior preparing for college is frightening. The ideas of “how am I going to pay for college?” and “where will I live?” are continuously brought upon myself, and my family. I have worked hard my entire high school career for the opportunity of attending the college I choose, as well as hopes that my work will pay off by receiving financial assistance for my education. Financially, my family has encountered many hardships including: having a single mother, four sisters, and medical adversities.

There is many people that go to college, but because of the cost they don't get through college. The elevated costs of college cause not only students to struggle paying for college, but also to struggle financially paying for college when they are done. In many cases, after graduating, young adults who don’t find a job will become poorer, increasing the gap between the rich and the

Many parents hold incredibly high expectations of their students due to the necessity of being college educated in order to obtain a job in which they can support themselves. On top of this pressure from parents, colleges and universities hold increasingly high standards in criteria for accepting potential students. Universities hope that students excel academically, in sports, volunteering, and they must be a well rounded individual. The need students to be essentially perfect and holding the same common level of standard puts measureless stress on students. This causes some students to rise above the pressure and excel in all areas, but other students do not work quite as well under the same amount of pressure.

College is one of the most significant times in a person’s life. Every year high school kids will visit many different colleges so that they can be confident in their college decision. Some kids will follow in their parent’s foot steps and base their decision on where their mom or dad went, though, not all kids are fortunate to have help from their parents. Many kids nowadays may be the first in their family to take on higher education. The article, “First Generation College Students: Unprepared and Behind” by Liz Riggs explains that kids who are the first in their family to take on college are at a disadvantage compared to kids with parents who attended college.

Judging someone or making assumptions based on physical appearance can never determine the environment they were raised in. Just because someone is in college it should not suggest that their family members are college educated. There are many people at The University of Louisiana at Monroe that are considered first-generation individuals. As of 2010 the National Center of Education indicated that 30 percent of college freshmen are first generation college students. First generation students are fresh to the ideal of college and they need a mental support system during so because most of them are not equipped to deal with tough situations.

Studying at university is an expensive investment. Tuition fees have a disincentive effect on the students who from the lower and middle-income families. As Bruenig states the statistice of the college students from the poor and rich families “ At age nineteen, only around 20 percent of children from the poorest 2 percent of families in the country attend college. For the richest 2 percent of families, the same number is around 90 percent. ” Also, most of those students want to achieve better lives so they attend the higher education.

A rising issue in today’s society is deciding whether or not college is worth the cost. There is an extreme amount of pressure that is forced upon high school students by parents, teachers, and peers to further their education and attend college. However, there is research that challenges the thought that college is the best possible path for a person to take. College may be a great investment for some people, but it is not meant for everyone. This is supported by the arguments that colleges are expensive, jobs do not always require a college degree, and students are forced to choose a lifestyle before being exposed to the real world.

As a first generation student to attend college from a family of seven, the journey to a higher education has been arduous and overwhelming. My family gives me all the encouragement I need and are very optimistic about pursuing a higher degree. Unlike myself, my parents did not have the opportunity to attend college. My parents were born and raised in a small town in Mexico where the highest level of education they received was fifth grade. I have worked since I was 14 years old to support my parents with bills, and also saving for college and my own vehicle.

Society often believes college is a necessary experience for a better future, but I argue that the future will not be any better when student debt becomes a part of life for those who follow that mainstream belief. Most parents often dream of the great colleges and universities that their children will get accepted into; however, they fail to think of the cost to attend those institutions. Financial aids! Financial aids! Yes there are financial aids that students can apply to lessen the student debt.

Students face various challenges throughout their college career. Thus, the problems that students have can range from balance, new lifestyle, to financial problems. Therefore, finding a balance between being a student, possibly working, and keeping up with their social life is a necessity. Similarly, others are away from home for the first time thus, they have a new responsibility with being on their own and findings ways to deal with homesickness. Likewise, being exposed to new financial situations is yet another challenge college students will need to learn how to cope with.