The application process can be extremely stressful because of all of the different components: essays, recommendation letters and the application. While some students can turn to their parents, who have gone through the same process, for advice, there are many students at Grady and nationwide who are the first in their family to apply.
Recently, volunteers at the College and Career Center have been helping students who are the first college-bound members of their family to go to college with the application process.
“That’s one of the main reasons Grady’s CCC was formed: to give our many first-generation students a better chance at getting information and assistance in applying to college,” explained Jennifer Buyens, one of the CCC’s co-directors.
In order to get first-generation students, and all students for that matter, interested in going to college and thinking about the application process, the CCC encourages teachers to bring their classes in and hosts a college fair each spring called “College in the Courtyard.”
The fair gives Grady’s juniors and seniors an opportunity to meet with recruiters and pick up information about various schools in a friendly and fun environment.
Buyens says there are two things that often intimidate or overwhelm first-generation students when looking at applying to college: planning and money. If a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, however, which often is the case for first-generation students, there are waivers for SAT, ACT and application fees.
“You shouldn’t let the money stop you,” Buyens said.
Buyens explained the process of planning is also key for a first-generation student to successfully complete the application process successfully.
A student’s choices of where to apply are significantly narrowed if they begin the process their senior year.
When helping a first-generation student apply to college, volunteers first help the student determine what kind of school he or she would like to apply to by looking at size, type and location. From there, they can help find financial aid and scholarships schools offer, especially for first-generation students.
“There isn’t one way to work with a student—we consider each individual situation, and then pull out all the stops helping them apply,” Buyens said.
Dawn Killenberg, another volunteer in the CCC, recommends first-generation students tour local colleges, even if a student is not necessarily interested in applying to local schools. “Being on a college campus and learning about their curriculum will help you and your parents understand the difference between schools and programs,” she said.
She also suggests first-generation students ask colleges if they offer programs or resources specifically for first-generation students and if they can do anything to help build a network for future jobs and mentoring. Many colleges have programs such as study groups and advising for first-generation students to help them feel comfortable at college and succeed while they’re there.
“First-generation-to-college students may not have the network for future opportunities that other students have,” Killenberg said. She suggests that first-generation students ask the school how they can help build a network for internships, alumni mentoring, job shadowing, research positions and career counseling.
“Once we get the student to understand that there’s plenty of opportunity, usually we just step out of the way and the student will come back,” Buyens said. “They just don’t take no for an answer, and that’s a unique trait for Grady students I think. We have so many students who know how to get what they want and the recruiters appreciate that.”
“We want them to dream big because there’s a lot out there,” Buyens said.
When first-generation students take advantage of everything the CCC has to offer, they will find that college can be affordable and is not far out of reach. Volunteers in the CCC help many first-generation students realize that just because they are first generation doesn’t mean that they have to limit their goals.
Natasha Wilson, a senior and first generation student at Grady, used resources offered by the CCC to complete college applications, find scholarships and financial aid, and meet with college recruiters.
“If there was no such thing as a college and career center here at Grady there would be no future for me to be honest,” Wilson said.
