Advice for First Generation College Students
Being a first-generation student means that you are the first person in your family to reach graduate school, but that doesn't mean that you lack the moral and emotional support from lots of people around you!
By Melissa Ortiz — November 20, 2023
Much has been written about first-generation college students and the obstacles they face, as well as the different types of support and people they can lean on to navigate their college career. However, less has been written about first-generation graduate students and there is a lack of research on their experiences, most likely because this is a small (but growing) population. Being a first-gen graduate student is the same thing as being a first-generation college student—your parents did not complete a 4-year college or university degree.
As such, the obstacles a first-generation student may face in graduate school are similar to those they face in college. While making it to graduate school is a major accomplishment for anyone, especially a first-generation student, there may be cumulative obstacles that they face, even if they were able to successfully navigate their undergraduate career. In fact, graduate school might be an even more isolating experience, as graduate students are much more likely to have parents who have completed graduate school than the rest of the population. As a first-generation college student myself currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program, I thought I had already learned how to navigate higher education institutions through my undergrad and master's programs. But I was wrong! This article is intended to provide guidance and advice for first-generation graduate students during their graduate programs.
One major issue that most first-generation graduate students face is money. Most master's programs are very expensive, so you will probably have to take out loans and/or work during your degree. Another way around this is to work full-time at an organization that would subsidize your degree, or find a job at the university itself first. It will take longer to get your degree and you'll have a lot on your plate for a year or two working full-time and going to school part-time, but this will save you tens of thousands of dollars and several years of paying off debt in the long run. If you are looking to get a Ph.D., most are fully funded so you won't have to worry about paying tuition. However, more stipends are not enough to live off comfortably depending on where you live, so you will likely also need to find a part-time job. You can prioritize finding a job at your school or an organization with a similar mission as your own research interests so they may intersect and align.
You have much more autonomy as a graduate student. On the one hand, this is appealing as you have the freedom to further explore your own interests. On the other hand, you're expected to navigate your institution on your own with very little guidance. You'll find that many universities are decentralized, and each person or staff member is siloed and plays their own part. Get to know the administrators in your program so you know who to go to if you have a question on financial aid, scheduling, or a health issue (they are likely all different people!). This burden does require more time and effort on your part, but it will be well worth it whenever you have a time-sensitive issue.
Being a graduate student means working much more closely with your professors than you did as an undergraduate student. It is also a different type of relationship — it's likely that you will work with your professors on a project, so this results in a more reciprocal relationship, while your professor is still acting as an advisor. Because you likely will have fewer assignments and consequently less ongoing feedback from professors in graduate school, it's even more important to schedule office hours with them. During your meeting times, you can find out how you're doing in the class and the areas in which you need improvement, and your professors will get to have a better understanding of you and your work, which will likely result in a better academic experience and outcomes for your class. No matter what your goals are after graduation, you will likely need recent references or letters of recommendation. Having one or two from graduate school will serve you greatly. While making connections during school is something many first-generation students don't think about, it's important to invest in your relationships with your professors (and peers as well), as they may serve you in the long run-in unexpected ways.
This may sound cliché, but there are most likely a ton of resources and centers within your institution to serve your needs. How helpful they are depends on the people in them (another reason to befriend the administrators!) and their own budget and resources, but seeking them out never hurts. As someone who has attended and worked at several different universities, there are always more resources available than you think and you often just need to find the right person that will help you and connect you to the resources and support that you need. So, you don't need to take the first no for an answer, but perhaps ask a different person or center.
Again, you will likely be surrounded by students who are not first-generation, and they will have a better understanding and handle on how to navigate being in a graduate program. As such, you may suffer from imposter syndrome, or the feeling that you don't "belong" or didn't "earn" your spot in the program. While neither of these feelings are true, many students experience mental health challenges that manifest from these feelings. It's important to remember that not only did you earn your spot in the program, but you likely worked twice as hard as some of your other peers. If these feelings persist, there is likely a counseling center on campus that can connect you with a therapist either on or off campus that can help you overcome this self-doubt.
Finally, it's important to find your people. They can be from your program or within the institution at large, but you are likely not the only person in your position. Also, lean into and maintain your friendships from outside the program and institution. Though the graduate program will likely be intensive and require a lot of your time, it shouldn't distract you from the things and people that are most important in your life, so be sure to make time to connect with them as well. Being a first-generation student means that you are the first person in your family to reach graduate school, but that doesn't mean that you lack the moral and emotional support from lots of people around you!
Melissa Ortiz
Melissa has ten years of experience working in research and administration in several nonprofits and higher education institutions. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and her M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
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