First Generation Student Barriers Essay

Words: 605
Pages: 3

First- Generation Students
Raven Fuel
Bryant & Stratton College
ENGL 099
Ms. Arakelian
03/18/2016

Barriers to Academic Success for First- Generation Student

There are many Barriers that First-Generation student face while attending college for the first time. First generation students that suffer from barriers while attending school are children of parents that didn’t get the chance to attend or finish college. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) conducted a study form 1992 to 2000, that 43% of first generation students left college without getting a degree in the United States (Chen, 2005, p.257). One major barrier that first generation students faces is the ability to function and thrive in two opposite worlds (Mitchell, 1997, p.258) (Hsaio, 1992, p.258) identified these two worlds are: culture of home and higher education. Therefore F.G.S faces barriers that can hinder their academic success like lack of family support, lack of income, and making friends at school.
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For example, these students start their college experience with little or no knowledge of the expectations, resources, or jargon associated with a college campus (Parks, 2016, para2). This result from the parents not having the knowledge to guide them. Due to that F.G.S start feeling self-doubt, guilt, and feeling of an “imposter”. Therefore some students feel sufficiently guilty that they want to leave school and return home to work to help their families (Parks, 2016, para3). As you continue to support and encourage your student, they will feel more confident, more informed about campus resources, and hopefully discover a greater sense of belonging and community at the College (Parks, 2016,