lessons learned: working with first-generation … learned: working with first-generation students...
TRANSCRIPT
Lessons Learned: Working with First-Generation Students
Anna Takahashi Eastside College Prep Share, Learn, Connect
March 2014
Defining “First Generation”
• Students whose parent(s) did not complete a 4-year undergraduate degree (per US Department of Education, University of California, etc.)
• Other considerations: – Students whose parents were educated outside the US
• Underemployment • Different educational systems
– Children whose parents recently received their 4-year degree
– May not be the first in the family to attend college – May or may not also be a first-generation American – Can come from different income backgrounds
% Distribution of US 5- to 17-Year Olds by First Gen Status and Race/Ethnicity
23 24
28
41 42
50
61
34
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
White Asian American Multiracial Black/AfricanAmerican
AmericanIndian/Alaska
Native
NativeHawaiian/Pacific
Islander
Hispanic/Latino Total US
Percentage
Source: College Board via NCES
Some Numbers
• 4.5 million low-income, first-generation students in post-secondary education (24% of the undergraduate population)
• Low-income, first-generation students were nearly four times more likely to leave higher education after the first year than students who had neither of these risk factors.
• Six years later, 43% of low-income, first-generation students had left college without earning their degrees. Among those who left, 60% did so after the first year. Only 11% earned their bachelors degrees.
• Low-income, first-generation students were actually seven times more likely to earn bachelor’s degrees if they started in four-year institutions, but only 25% of them did so.
• Only 14% of low-income, first-generation students attending public two-year and for-profit institutions transferred to four-year institutions within 6 years.
(2008 Pell Institute Study)
Challenges Facing First-Generation Students in College Access
• Financial
• Cultural
• Structural
• Bump in the road? Detour? Road block?
Financial Challenges Facing First-Generation Students in College Access
• Pre-college costs – Registering to take standardized tests
– Sending test scores
– College application fees
– Financial aid application fees (CSS PROFILE)
– Enrollment deposits
– Housing application fees/deposits
– Visiting campuses
• Sticker shock from costs of attendance
Financial Challenges Facing First-Generation Students in College Access • Maneuvering financial aid
– Hoping for the “full ride” – Loan aversion – Loan gullibility – Reading financial aid award letters (PLUS loans) – Covering costs for one year vs. four/five years
• Unforeseen expenses – Travel to/from campus – “Miscellaneous Fees” – student services, printing, ID
card, laundry, orientation, parking, etc.
• AB 540 students and/or undocumented parents
Cultural Challenges Facing First-Generation Students in College Access
• Limited knowledge (types of colleges, geographic areas, majors, selection criteria, etc.)
• “Liberal arts” vs. professional degree/career
• Pressure or lack of support from family, peers, community – Family responsibilities and priorities
– Leaving home/leaving the family
– When the going gets tough, “come home”
• Stereotypes of college (whitewashing, reppin’)
Structural Challenges Facing First-Generation Students in College Access • Academic preparation • Too many sources of information – what’s
relevant? What’s trustworthy? • So many moving pieces • Starting too late • Deadlines • Logistics – eg., registering, prepping, taking tests,
sending scores, following up, etc. • Completing forms • Unfamiliar vernacular
Addressing the Academic Challenges
• Start early (middle school program) and mandatory summer bridge for rising 6th and 9th graders
• Exceed requirements for admission to 4-year colleges (AP, college courses); highly structured
• Extra writing built into the curriculum including several major research papers in 11th and 12th grades
• College readiness built into the humanities curriculum
• Summer course offerings including CC classes
Addressing the Academic Challenges
• Small class sizes
• Extended school day
• Tutorials led by faculty
• Set high standards
• All students take at least two AP classes
• All students take the PSAT in 9th, 10th and 11th
• SAT prep built into the curriculum (10th and 11th)
Addressing the Cultural Challenges
• Creating a college-going culture where all are expected to go to four-year colleges
• Close-knit, family environment • Summer enrichment program • Parent volunteer hours • “EFC” • Dedicated classroom space for the college center
in the middle of campus • Alumni support team • Emphasis on “adult responsibilities” for seniors
Addressing Resource Challenges
• Extended school day
• Alumni support team
• Career pathways program for alumni
• Community service built into graduation requirements
• College trips for juniors
• Exposure to a range of colleges – Keeping an open mind about college choices
• Dedicated space for the college center
Addressing Resource Challenges
• College counseling course (Senior College Prep) in 12th – 2-week “boot camp” before start of 12th grade
– Mandatory that all students apply to local CSU
– Completion of college applications by mid December
– Completion of financial aid applications in class in January
– Mandatory student/parent meeting in April to discuss college options
Addressing Resource Challenges
• Senior College Prep (cont.)
– Transition to college topics covered
– Personal finance and financial literacy
– Self-advocacy and “adult responsibilities”
– Opportunities to bring in alumni, parents, guest speakers, et al.
This boils down to…
• Building relationships (students, families, faculty, colleagues, college representatives, community leaders, alumni, et al).
• Setting and communicating high standards
• Being flexible – there is no such thing as a “typical” day
• Having a sense of humor – laugh from the belly
• Believing
Contact Info:
Anna Takahashi Director of College Counseling
Eastside College Prep [email protected] 650-688-0850 x103