TRANSCRIPT: Success Strategies For First Generation Students

Speaker: Dr Paz Oliverez

Success Strategies

Hello and welcome to College Success tips for First Generation Students. Getting in, getting through, and getting to your next step. My name is Paz Oliverez and I’m really excited to be here with you to day. I’ve worked with college students for a number of years, both as an advisor, as a program coordinator, and now as an administrator, and i’m really excited to share with you a lot of the tips that I’ve learned in working with students for a number of years.

So let’s get started!

Prepare For College

Prior to talking about getting into college, it's really important that we talk a little bit about the preparation you need to be a competitive college applicant. The first thing is really making sure that you perform well academically. It's important to remember that grades really do matter. So you want to make sure that you're staying on top of your academics and that you're getting any types of academic support that you need to ensure that your grades stay strong.

Get involved at your school and in your community. It's really important that you're thinking about doing extracurricular types of activities. Colleges really love students who possess leadership skills and who have unique experiences and interests. So you want to really think about what you bring to the table that other students may not. And if you don't have those things quite yet, then start beginning to think about what types of opportunities you can get involved in either at your school site or in your community to really build up some of those different experiences and leadership skills. 

And then finally, think about doing what you love. If you really like to play an instrument or you really enjoy a sport, join your school band; join a sports team because these are the things that your colleges are going to be looking for. They really do want that well-rounded student. As cliché as that may sound, you do want to think about beyond just your academic performance what you bring that other students may not.

Choose The Right School

When you're thinking about getting into colleges, there are a number of things that you want to consider. First of all, you really want to think about exploring all different college types. There are community colleges, public universities, private universities, and vocational schools. So you really want to think about what might be the best option for you. Don't just look at the local schools in your area. You really want to expand and explore all of your different options.

You also want to think about college costs. A lot of students may have misconceptions about what it costs to go to college. So it's really important that you're looking at what are the college costs for a community college or a two-year institution, as well as looking at your public and your private institutions. Or if you're thinking about going to an out-of-state school or a vocational school, all of the costs are really going to vary. So you really want to make sure that you are looking into those costs and that you have a realistic understanding of what it may cost you to pursue higher education at whatever institution you're interested in. 

You also want to make sure that you're getting some assistance with your college applications. Applying to college can be a bit of a confusing process. Don't be afraid to ask for help. A lot of times, there are questions regarding your parents' income; there are questions regarding your own academics and experiences in high school. So it's important that you get some guidance. Don't be afraid to ask for help with getting through that application process.

College Visits

The next thing to think about is if you're able to visit colleges. It's really a great way to explore your different college options.  Just because a college has a great website or a big name doesn't necessarily mean it's the right place for you. So it's really important that if you can get to colleges either in your local area or even take some college trips and go somewhere a little further away so you're really able to get a feel for the different colleges that you have an interest in applying to. 

You want to walk around on different college campuses to determine if you could really see yourself there. Again, every college is going to have a different culture, a different feel to it, different types of opportunities available. So it's really important to get a feel to determine if you can really see yourself attending that college.

You also want to think about whether or not you want to attend a small campus, a large campus, an urban campus, a rural campus. Do you want to be in the city? Do you want to be in the woods? It really just depends on where you see yourself going to college. So it's really important. If you can get to the colleges, you can get a feel for whether or not that might be the right place for you.

You also want to think about what other factors might be important to you in the college that you attend. Is it the location? Do you want to be somewhere closer to home, or are you looking forward to getting further away? Is it the reputation? Are you in a field that it really does matter where you get that degree? Then you may want to think about the reputation of the schools that you go to.  Think about the costs; is this something that's going to be financially feasible for you? 

Think about the degree programs that each institution offers. Again, you want to remember that not every college offers every degree program. So you really want to make sure that whatever major you want to go into, whatever career you want, that you're going to be able to get the preparation you need at whatever college you go to.

The other thing you want to look into is whether or not there are student supports available to you and what kinds of supports are there. You may need tutoring assistance; you may need advising; you may want a peer mentor. You want to really look at what types of supports are available to students on the different campuses that you're thinking about applying to. 

And finally, look at whether or not there are sports on that campus, student organizations, academic programs, or other different types of activities that you might be interested in. These are really going to vary from campus to campus. So the best way to really explore a lot of these pieces is to actually visit the college campus.

Application Deadlines

The last thing you want to remember - and this is a really important one - is to write down and meet all deadlines. You're an adult now, and you are expected to behave accordingly. You're in charge of your own future. You can't expect your counselors and teachers and parents and whomever to keep you up-to-date with all of these deadlines and keep track of all these things for you. It's really up to you to make sure that you're keeping track of these things for yourself.

The exceptions for missed deadlines will not be made. You might have gotten away with some of that stuff in high school, but this is not going to be the case anymore in college.

Unfortunately, some students don't get admitted to colleges because they missed deadlines. So the stakes are high, and you really want to make sure that you are staying on top of all of your different deadlines. 

One of the ways to do that is to keep track of the application deadlines for all of the different schools that you're applying to and when you can expect to hear back with admissions assistance. A lot of students will sometimes apply to places and you ask them, "How did that go? Did you ever hear back or did you get in?"

And they say, "Oh, I never heard anything."

Well, every college is going to send you something. So you want to make sure that you're checking your e-mail, your checking deadlines, if you don't hear anything that you contact the campus. It's really important for you to stay on top of the deadlines because then you'll know, wait, did I miss something? Was there something I should have heard about, and who do I need to follow up with to make sure that I'm staying on track with all of those different pieces? This is your future, and you're responsible for making sure that you handle your own business.

Before Classes Start

Now we're going to talk about getting through college. But before you even begin that first semester, there are some different steps you may want to take. The first thing is to make sure that you attend your college orientation. Every college is going to have some sort of orientation activities, whether it's a one-day event or a weekend long series of activities. And it's a great way for you to meet your new college; meet new people; get familiar with the different programs and resources available to you; and really find out what your new college has to offer.

If you're able to, another great opportunity to engage in is to find out if your college has any sort of summer program. Sometimes you have a transitional program that will allow you to kind of get acclimated to what to expect at college, and oftentimes these programs are called summer bridge programs. They often include an opportunity to take remedial classes if you need them; and if you don't need any of those classes, sometimes you'll be able to take some sort of college courses where you can begin getting credit and getting ahead, even in the summer before you start.

You can also oftentimes participate in different workshops, where you can obtain valuable college knowledge such as time management skills, study skills, how to seek guidance and support once you get to college. And it's also a great way to make new friends.  A lot of students get to college and are a little concerned about how they're going to get to know people. And by participating in any sort of summer or transitional program, it's a really great way to begin getting to know students on your new college campus.

Get Connected 

The next thing you want to do is really think about getting connected with different programs on your college campus. A lot of times these programs can help you make that transition in or just ensure that you get better connected at your college campus. These programs will often allow you to begin in the summer and sometimes complete those classes that you need or offer opportunities to help you get acquainted with people and places on the college campus.

So oftentimes you get connected with staff, faculty, other students; and you're really kind of embedded in that network of support to really help you be successful at your new college. These programs often continue beyond your first semester of college. And sometimes you can go into the first year or even beyond the first year of college so that you really do maintain that connection to that support system as you continue through your years in college.

Who You Know

The next important thing to remember about getting through college is it's all about who you know. I'm going to talk to you about some of the people that it's really important to connect with on your college campus.

First, it's really important that you get connected with either an academic advisor or a counselor. These folks usually work either in your college or university advising office. Sometimes they'll work for those different support programs that we just mentioned, or they may be existing in your academic departments where your major is. They can help you determine which classes to take, when to take them, so that you complete all of your General Education and major course requirements in a timely manner.

They can also help to answer academic and non-academic questions when you aren't sure about something, and may even refer you to another individual or campus resources who can better serve your needs. These folks are a really great resource anytime you have any sort of challenges or academic issues as you're going through college. 

You also want to make sure that you connect with your faculty or professors. These folks teach in your academic departments. These are going to be the folks who are teaching all of your classes. They can also advise you and provide you with guidance about your major, about which courses to take; and they can also talk to you about career options in your field. These are the people that you should also go to if you're struggling in your classes. 

Don't wait until you're in the middle of a crisis to go to your professors. They can provide you with academic support, feedback on your academic performance; and they can even help you understand the course material better so that you can ace that next paper or exam. They should be contacted in the event that you have an emergency or crisis that may impact your performance in their class. They can be of great support to you if they know about your situation sooner than later.

Fellow Students

The next thing to remember is that your fellow students can also be of great help and support to you.  One of the things to look for on your campus is a peer mentoring or peer advising program.  These are programs where you can establish a formal relationship with a student peer who is ahead of you in school and can provide you with information, support, and guidance based on their experience as a college student.

You also want to think about forming study groups. Get to know your classmates and form study groups so you're not on your own, and you can draw from the knowledge and understanding of your peers to get through your academic courses.

Most campuses also offer something like a tutoring program or what's often called supplemental instruction. And these programs are where student tutors or SIs are available to assist you.

Tutoring and/or SI can come in the form of drop-in tutoring, where you come in and ask questions about a particular problem or assignment; or it may be in the form of a workshop on a particular topic that you may need additional help with.

Get Involved On Campus 

The next important thing to remember in getting through college is to get involved on campus. This is particularly important for first-generation students because oftentimes we have a lot of different commitments while we're going through college. Oftentimes, we may be focused on get to class, get through, and get home. But it's really important that you get engaged with your new college campus.

Some of the ways to do that are by getting involved in different activities on your college campus, one of which is getting involved in student clubs or organizations or maybe even athletics. These are a great way to get engaged. And your involvement will not only help you get connected with your campus, but it will also help you to build relations and leadership skills that will benefit you when you look for internships, jobs, and/or apply to graduate school. So it's helpful in getting through college, but it also helps you be more competitive for whatever you may decide you want to do next. 

The next thing you want to do is think about joining academic programs. This is also very important for first-generation students, and there are a number of programs called TRIO programs that exist throughout the country on different college campuses that really provide students with academic support and exposure to careers and graduate school during your college years. So again, you can get connected with different types of information and supports that are really going to help you think about what you want to do once you're done with college. These are a great place to get connected to staff, faculty, and peers in your field of interest who can provide you with mentorship and guidance as you move through college and consider your next steps.

Working On Campus

Another great way to get involved on campus is by actually getting a job on your college campus. Many first-generation students do need to work while going through college, so it's really important to think about your own college campus as a great resource for finding a job. The college jobs tend to be more sensitive to the fact that you're a student and are going to be more understanding when you may need to modify your schedule or take time off during mid- terms or finals. Versus if you get a job off campus, folks are going maybe look at you as any other employee and may not necessarily be as sensitive to the fact that you're a student.

But college jobs are really going to allow you the opportunity to build relationships with staff and peer son your college campus, obtain new skills, and gain understanding of different areas of your college campus. Sometimes you may even find that that job that you have as a college student may be something that you end up finding that you're interested in and even want to pursue a career in. You never know how that may go, but it's really a great way for you to gain employment and get more connected with your college.

Take Care

The next things we're going to talk about in getting through college are really about how to take care of yourself, and it's going to cover a few different areas. We're going to focus on taking care of your academic, financial, and personal health. The first thing to remember is to manage your time wisely. This is a really important step in having academic success in college.

The first thing you want to do is get a calendar or agenda and schedule in all of your commitments. Write down your class schedule, due dates for assignments, your work schedule, any personal commitments you have; and schedule in some time for fun. You've got to make sure you've got those breaks in there.

You also want to learn how to understand your financial aid and manage your money. Visit your Financial Aid Office, talk to an advisor, or attend a financial literacy workshop. There are two pieces to this. There is understanding all the different pieces of your financial aid award, but also understanding if you do get a financial aid refund or if you're working while you're in college, what you want to do with that money

The last thing to do is to try to live a healthy lifestyle and utilize campus resources as needed. Most colleges and universities are going to have a gym or recreation center, where you can relieve stress by working out or taking an exercise class. Your college or university is going to also have a health center, where counseling services or other types of health supports are available when you feel overwhelmed or need someone to talk to. So these are really great resources for you to take advantage of to make sure that you are your best while you're going through college.

Career Center

Now that I've covered a lot of the different resources to tap into on your college campus, I'm going to go a little deeper into some of the areas that are going to really help you prepare for the next steps, what you want to do once you're done with college.

I just mentioned your Career Center. It's a really great place to go to search for jobs and internships. Again, you may just need a job to pay the bills; but you may want to pursue something that is actually going to give you some experience in your field of interest. Or you may have an academic program that actually requires you to participate in an internship. Your Career Center is a great resource for finding that type of information.

They can also help you develop or revise your resume. That's a place where you can go to, to do a practice interview. If you actually do line up a job interview, you've applied for something and you maybe haven't interviewed for a job before or you're just a little nervous about what to expect, this is a great place to go and maybe practice a run-through so that you kind of feel a little more comfortable when you go into that interview.

They can also talk to you about how to dress for success. Again, it's a new world when you go into that professional world. So you want to think about the fact that maybe the trendy outfit that's cool to your friends may not be the thing that's going to land you that job you want. So you want to get some guidance on appearance and what folks are looking for in your particular field.

And also, they often offer a number of useful workshops. So it's really important that you look at what your Career Center on your campus has to offer and take advantage of those opportunities because those can be really helpful to you as you're going through school and prepare you for what to do once you're done. 

The next thing to do - and I have it here highlighted - network, network, network. It's really important to get connected, and we've talked about that. It's important to connect with different people, and it's all about who you know. So you want to make sure that you're connecting with peers, professors, counselors, advisors, and other folks on your college campus. These people can provide you with useful information and help you connect to educational and professional opportunities.

I always tell students that when those exciting opportunities come along, if people don't know who you are, don't know what your interests are, and don't know what you want to do, they're not going to think of you. So it's really important that you get yourself out there and you talk to people about what your interests are.

You also want to connect with professionals in your field or career of interest. These are folks that you can ask questions about what it's like to work in your field of interest and what it took them to get there. Again, as a first-generation student, sometimes we have this outstanding goal; but we aren't really sure what steps we need to take to get to that place. So it's important to talk to folks in your field, and they can give you some guidance on what it took to get them to where they are.

Find out what kinds of jobs you can get with your major degree. Again, sometimes we want to pursue a particular major because that sounds interesting to us; but we aren't exactly sure where that's going to get us when we're done. 

And then also ask for advice about how to accomplish your professional goals. If you do want to be an attorney, you want to be a doctor, you want to be a teacher, or whatever the case may be, then you want to get some guidance on what it's going to take for you to get there. Many careers will require more than a bachelor's degree. Oftentimes, you need to get a graduate degree, a master's, some other type of terminal degree. So it's important that you talk to folks and you find out what are the steps that you need to take. And networking is a great way to do that.

Utilize Resources

Finally, now that we've talked about all the different steps that you need to take to get through college, I want to hit on all the different areas that we covered. Really the main thing that you want to take away from this is to really take advantage of all the resources available to you on your college campus. We talked about advising. As first-generation students, oftentimes we come in; and we're not always sure all the different steps we need to take to be successful in college.

Oftentimes, we might not be sure what classes to take, what to do if we have academic challenges; and that's really what your advisors are there for. In addition, we came come in not as well-prepared academically as we would like to be or as we need to be, to be successful in college. And that's really where that tutoring piece comes in. Make sure that you take advantage of those academic supports that are available to you in college.

In addition, as a first-generation student, sometimes that transition into college can be challenging because our families may not always understand the different demands on our time now that we're in college. So going to the Health Center, getting some counseling support, talking to someone about some of the challenges that you may be encountering, can really be helpful in ensuring that you are still able to get through school successfully.

Also, make sure that you take advantage of your college or university library. This is a really great place to go to really study, get that quiet time if you're not able to get that time at home, but to really find that place where you can put that work in. And then when you go home, you can do whatever else you may need to do. Or if you go back to your dorm or wherever you're staying, you can focus on other things. But really take advantage of the library.

Also, get involved in your Office of Student Life. This is where your student organizations are going to be. This is where a lot of the different types of programming are going to exist on your college campus. So tap into your Office of Student Life on your college campus. 

Also, make sure that you visit your Financial Aid Office. If you have questions about your finances, make sure that you talk to someone and you get some guidance.

And finally, a lot of first-generation students may be still exploring career options, may be unsure about what different academic path you need to take to get to the career you want. So the Career Center is a great place to go and talk to someone.  You can talk to your career counselor, who can give you some guidance on different steps you can take, different academic courses you may want to pursue to get a feel for different careers, and really get some guidance so that you can make sure that you are making well-informed choices while you're in college.

Network

The next thing we're going to talk about is something I said earlier, which is, it's all about who you know. And so this next thing that I want to remind you to do is network, network, network. This is really about connecting with peers, professors, counselors, advisors, and other folks on your college campus. These are people that can provide you with useful information and help you connect to educational and professional opportunities.

One of the things that I always tell students is that a lot of folks on your college campus are going to have a lot of different opportunities that come their way that they hear about that they can offer to students. But if you don't talk to folks and they don't know what your interests are, then they're not going to be able to offer those opportunities to you; or they're not going to think of you when those opportunities come along. So it's really approximately to get out there and talk to people about what you want to do and what experience you already have.

You also want to think about connecting with professionals in your field or career of interest, asking questions about what it's like to work in your field and what it took them to get there. Again, many first-generation students have a lot of ideas about different careers that you may want to pursue; but you may not always know what the steps are that you need to take to get to where you want to be. So find out what it took a lot of these folks to get to where they are now and to get into those careers.

Find out what kinds of jobs you can get with your major or degree. Again, a lot of times we have a great major in mind. It sounds really interesting and exciting to us. But we're not always sure what we're going to be able to do with that degree when we're done. So again, talking to folks who are in that major is also a great way to get more information about what opportunities might be available to you.

They can also give you advice about how to accomplish your professional goals. So talking to folks in your field is a great way to really get some good information to help you understand what steps you need to take while you're in college to get to that next step.

Volunteer Work

The next thing to remember in terms of getting on to that next step and being best prepared for whatever you decide to do after college is to do volunteer work or community service while you're in college. This is a great way to build relationships with people in your community, develop your own leadership skills, get experience in your field of interest, and gain experience that will help to strengthen your resume or graduate school applications. 

Sometimes we're not always able to get a job or an internship in our field of interest, but you can volunteer. People love that free help, and it's a great way to get connected with people in your field of interest and get a feel for what that work is like.

A lot of times those folks that you meet can be folks that can give you guidance, may be able to share other opportunities with you, or can even be folks to write your letters of recommendation when you're applying for jobs or internships or graduate school later on. So getting involved in more things is a great way to expand your network and to really be as well-prepared as you can be for whatever you decide to do after college.

Social Media 

Another thing to think about in getting on to your next step after college is making wise use of social media. A lot of students are using social media these days; and it's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's important to be aware that what you post on social media is permanent and accessible to your professors and potential employers. So again, any personal things that you may not want put out to the public, you really want to think about whether or not those are things you want to be putting even in your social media profiles.

One of the rules of thumb that you may want to use is if you wouldn't want your professor or your boss to see it, you probably shouldn't post it. One of the tips that I often tell students is: Think before you post. Be thoughtful about the types of things that you put out there because it does actually reflect on you personally and will begin to reflect on you as a professional once you get out there into the field.

But social media isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are a lot of really great professional networking websites that you can use on social media that can really help you connect with folks in your field that can actually help you connect with students in your own major on your campus. They can connect you with professors on your campus, on other campuses

There are a lot of really great ways to use social media. But it's really important to just be thoughtful about how you're using that because what you put out there on the Internet is permanent and can be accessible to the public. So you really want to be thoughtful before you put things out there that you may or may not want other folks to see.

Conclusion

Now we've talked about all the different pieces that I think are really important for you in being a successful college student: getting in, getting through, and really thinking about what you need to do to get on to that next step.

But really, in conclusion, some of the things that you want to remember in making the most of your college experience are preparing before you arrive; getting connected once you choose a college or university to attend; taking advantage of all the resources available to you at your college or university to help you get through successfully; building relationships with peers, staff, faculty, community members, individuals in your field, and anyone else who can help you reach your goals; and thinking about your future while you are still in college, and taking action that will help you get to your next step.

If you complete all of these steps, I'm sure you'll be on to a great future. Good luck and thank you for joining me today.