The purpose of this website is to create an interactive webpage designated to first generation college students who might feel intimidated navigating the main homepage for UW Bothell. We have narrowed down each information page to a very broad overview of the school in order to create a more exciting environment for first generation college students, rather than overwhelm them with information. This webpage is filled with different quizzes and guidance as these student progress on their college journey!
Website Notes:
This resource is created with the consideration of first-generation college students who might be anxious or worried about going to college, especially if they don’t have prior guidance from a guardian or parents. Going to college is a great achievement, especiallyffor people who are the first of their family to attend; however, despite pride and excitement towards stepping in a new area, it is, without a doubt, a terrifying experience. With so many opportunities that college gives, whether that would be through connection with other students, or opportunities to participate in research projects, it could feel overstimulating. For us, it is important to emphasize easy access towards resources that could guide a student through their first couple of months in a completely new environment, especially since prior to college, they most likely did not receive the guidance needed to prepare for such a big step in life. First-generation college students experience their own unique stressors, such as lack of academic preparaion, absence of support from family and friends, and difficult cultural transitions (House et al., 2020). We recognize that a combination of these factors could lead to a higher risk of mental health problems and lower retention rates, so we aim to create a website that allows them a head start on some key issues they might have troubles about.
Our goal for this website is to create a quick and accessible web page that guides first generation college students through a journey that feels like an adventure. As mentioned, a lot of students lose their time to enjoy their youth due to numerous factors that include cultural stress, pressure from family or society to go to college, and so much more, which is why it’s important to bring back some of that lost time into a website that not only helps them learn more about their school and the different steps that a student could take in order feel more at ease with school. This website is also tailored to each student’s personality. Based on their answers to the first couple of questions that ask about what they want to start with, whether that would be socially, academically, or jobwise, the website will continue their ‘adventure’ with a series of resources links that are attached to each of their answers.
Reference:
House, L. A., Neal, C., & Kolb, J. (2020). Supporting the Mental Health Needs of First Generation College Students. Journal of College student Psychotherapy, 34(2), 157-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2019.1578940