Across America, there are millions of high school students who will come from low-income families and/or will be the first student in family history to attend college.
According to a recent article in The Press Enterprise, the University of California at Riverside (UCR) is one of 11 public research universities that is launching an effort to increase graduation rates for these students.
UCR enrolls a large number of low-income students and students who are the first in their family to attend college. And, at UCR, more than half of the undergraduates attending receive Pell Grants, which are federal grants for low-income or first-generation college students.
In addition, UCR is one of the few universities in the country where these students graduate at roughly the same rate as undergraduates as a whole.
As a first-generation college student, it is important to know that there are many things you can do to best prepare yourself for the journey ahead.
A definite positive is that some colleges actually seek to enroll first-generation students.
One important factor is to make sure you are taking the classes you need to make yourself eligible to attend the college you plan on going to.
It is also vital to know all the “ins” and “outs” of filling out a college application and applying for financial aid by filling out FAFSA.
Because you are the first in your family to attend college, it is also important to involve your family with all the information you are learning, including the application process, financial aid, and any information about the colleges you are interested in attending.
If you are not sure where you may want to attend college, do research by going to each college’s website so you can get a good idea about what each college offers, what the campus life is like, and how many students start as freshmen and end up graduating.
At Advanced College Solutions, Inc., we offer a variety of programs that can best prepare you for getting into college. Please give us a call and we can discuss any questions you have as a first-generation college student.