FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE

STUDENTS VERSUS SECOND

-Closing the GapBy Juliet McGee and Kamand
Fadaee

SO WHAT?
What we
researched:

The major differences

The interesting similarities

Why it is important to close

the gap

Ways to do so

WHAT DID WE FIND?

Discouraging statistics

&
Personal stories that DONT confirm what
society thinks

ALSO,
Innovative ways to Close the
Gap

&
Steps already being taken to do
so!

STATISTICS
1/3 of college students are first generation
(CollegeBoard.com)

Of These, 30% of incoming freshman in the Fall 2014

season were first generation students
(USA Today)
26% of first generation college students drop out within
their first year
(The Pell Institute)

Examples of Why These Statistics are

True

By Kansas State
University

THE DIFFERENCES

Lack of experienced advice and guidance

(University of

Cincinnati)

Financial preparation in most cases

Support and expectations

Preparation through high school courses

(University of California)

(Laura, Smith)

(College

Summit)

Drop out rates and college GPA

(The Pell Institute)

SOMEONE
WHO
CHALLENGED
THESE FACTS
AND STATS

THE SIMILARITIES

Stress Levels

Course Work Load

Scholarship Applications

On Campus Involvement

AN
INTERESTING
VIEWPOINT
First generation student
&
A second generation student

KAYLIN
BOTH PARENTS GRADUATED FROM
UNCC

MICHALA
HER FATHER OPENED HIS OWN MECHANIC SHOP
AT 19 AND HER MOTHER STAYED HOME TO RAISE
CHILDREN

NOW WE KNOW THAT ONLY A FEW

BEAT THE ODDS AND CHALLENGE THE
FACTS. SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
CLOSE THE GAP?

FIRST, WHAT DOES

CLOSING THE GAP
MEAN?
Decreasing the percentage between first generation

college students and second generation college

students, in hopes that eventually everyones parents
will have graduated from college for the sake of their
college experience

(TheMissingLink.c
om)

WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT?!

Confident students make better grades (

HickHock.com)

Less likely to have drop outs

Paves a way for the next generation after us

Allows us and the generation after us to be
more competitive in the market

PAVING THE WAY FOR

THE NEXT GENERATION

Guidance through high

school i.e. AP Courses,
homework help,

Application Process and

Applying for Scholarships

Adequate advice on which

courses to take

Reasonable expectations

Raising the bar in America

(AICPA
Insights)

STEPS ALREADY
BEING TAKEN

(
www.uc.ed
u
)
UNIVERSITY

THE
OF
CINCINNATI
The Gen-1 House

COLLEGE
SUMMIT
College Summits model is
unique in working with school
leaders, educators, and students
to ensure high schools have the
kind of culture where going to
college is the expectation, not
the exception
-College Summit

(College

Non-Profit
organization
dedicated to
preparing EVERY
high school
student for
college.

Th
e

(
ImFirst.or
g
)

Movemen
t

Created by the Center for Student Opportunity, Im

First is a place for first generation college students
to come for guidance and encouragement by
watching personal stories, connecting with other first
gen students who have graduated, locating financial
resources, as well as tips and tricks for studying and
note taking.

STEPS WE CAN TAKE AS

UNCC STUDENTS!

FOR FIRST-GEN
STUDENTS

Take advantage of UNCC workshops

Involve your parents

Talk to your advisor and counselors

Help guide younger siblings

Dont be afraid to ask for help

Be confident!

FOR SECOND-GEN
STUDENTS

Support movements like Im First and

College Summit

Encourage younger friends to attend college

Offer your services to the freshman next year

through tutoring and mentoring programs

Keep the college tradition in your family going!

(David
Change)

THANK YOU!

WORKS CITED
CollegeBoard.21March2011.Web.15April2015
Freedle,Michala.PersonalInterview.2April2015
HickHock.BeConfidentandYouWillMakeBetterGrades.15March2010.Web.15April2015
ImFirst.N.D.Web.15April2015
Morris,Kaylin.PersonalInterview.2April2015
Smith,Laura.SupportingParentsinSupportingTheirStudents.UniversityofSouthCarolina.12January2012.Web.21March
2015
ThePellInstitute.MovingBeyondAccess.Pgs1114.N.D.Web.12March2015
UniversityofCalifornia.FirstInMyFamily.Pgs22and34.2007.Web.15March2015
UniversityofCincinnati.FirstGenStudents.29March2009.Web.15March2015.
USAToday.FirstGenCollegeStudentsStaytheCourse.28March2010.16March2015