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First Generation College Students

740 Words3 Pages

College is one of the most significant times in a person’s life. Every year high school kids will visit many different colleges so that they can be confident in their college decision. Some kids will follow in their parent’s foot steps and base their decision on where their mom or dad went, though, not all kids are fortunate to have help from their parents. Many kids nowadays may be the first in their family to take on higher education. The article, “First Generation College Students: Unprepared and Behind” by Liz Riggs explains that kids who are the first in their family to take on college are at a disadvantage compared to kids with parents who attended college. First generation college students are ill prepared for college based off of statistical evidence, their parents, and financial struggles.

First, Liz Riggs uses statistical evidence in many ways to explain how first generation college …show more content…

Parents play a big role in their child’s lives because they provide a sense of direction for them. It is natural for a child to look up to his/her mom or dad. If a young adult doesn’t have the help from their parents who have already experienced college then they are already behind the kids who are able to use their parents as a resource. A quote by Nijay Williams in the article says, “My mom stopped school in the ninth grade; my dad stopped in the fourth grade … It makes it harder for me, [and] most of the people I graduated with are not in college, but that’s what I see myself doing; I want to go to college. I just want to have a degree.” This is first person point of view is evidence that proves people with parents who dropped out on their education are making it harder on their child’s education. This quote also proves that even though Williams didn’t have parents who finished high school he can still obtain the drive to seek the knowledge of higher

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As stated before, Miller was once a project director for the Pew-sponsored National Forum on college level learning from 2002-2004, and a Curry School of Education professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She has experience in this area, as well as research from which conducted for a national education forum. In this work, Miller provides outside sources to represent families who do not have parents who attended college to compare to her own experiences, as well as the data she provides. Miller also uses: charts produced by Tom Mortenson, data released by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), all credible sources. This essay appeals strongly to ethos.

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In his article, “Are Too Many People Going to College?” Charles Murray argues that too many people are going to college universities when they should be focusing on other lifestyle options. In his opinion, whether or not to attend college is a personal decision that should be thoroughly thought through. When weighed with the unrealistic prerequisites, the financial expenses, and the time needed to obtain a degree, many people will find that attending college will not be beneficial to them. Speaking of this Murray attests, “The question here is not whether the traditional four-year residential college is fun or valuable as a place to grow up, but when it makes sense as a place to learn how to make a living.

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As I look back on my journey to college, I faced many different problems and disadvantages even before taking my first steps on campus. In Linda Banks-Santilli’s “Guilt is one of the biggest struggles first-generation college students face” many first generation students view being the first one in the family as a major flaw before entering college (Banks-Santilli, 2015, Par. 4 &7). The lack of self-respect makes it difficult for students to achieve success without help or motivation. The students have to change their viewpoint about being the first to go to college in their family as a weakness and make it a strength to help motivate them to be better students.

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As a college student who is currently spending thousands of dollars to further my education and achieve a career goal, it was, at first, disheartening to read Caroline Bird ’s essay “College is a Waste of Time and Money”. However, after thoroughly examining her points, I now see that her essay is illogical. In her piece “College is a Waste of Time and Money”, Caroline Bird argues against the idea that “college is the best place for all high-school graduates” (1); in other words, college isn’t for everyone. Throughout her writing, Bird supplies her readers with evidence that explains how, for some individuals, college is a waste of not only time and money, but of intellectual effort, as well.

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Many students out of high school take the next step in extending their education by attending college. At the same time, how they choose the right school is one of the most burdening decisions in the secondary education process. Before going to college, the student must start the process to figure out their interests and where it can take them. Once this has been determined, they can start the application process to colleges that will assure success. Unfortunately, many parents of young adults impose limitations to their choices.

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In my intermediate family not everyone went to college and today they still struggle to find a job that pays them well and can finance them for the things they wish to have. Where my eldest aunt went to college and earned her master’s degree and worked a job she loved that payed well and gave her the opportunity to live happy and comfortably. College does not prepare you for a life of bills and credit but it does prepare you for the profession you are aiming

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A rising issue in today’s society is deciding whether or not college is worth the cost. There is an extreme amount of pressure that is forced upon high school students by parents, teachers, and peers to further their education and attend college. However, there is research that challenges the thought that college is the best possible path for a person to take. College may be a great investment for some people, but it is not meant for everyone. This is supported by the arguments that colleges are expensive, jobs do not always require a college degree, and students are forced to choose a lifestyle before being exposed to the real world.

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Based on chapter one of “The Invisibility Factor” the author argues that as the number of first generation applicants attending colleges increase, institutions face public criticism about rising tuition cost and questions about accessibility for low income students. In December 2007, Harvard University announced that student loans would be replaced with grants for families earning less than $180,000 a year. As well as a program that ensures families earning less than $60,000 a year would likely pay nothing to attend Harvard. Even though first generation students are less likely to pay college tuition because of financial aid, tap, and other government assistances due to their low income in their family, they still face heavy academic stress upon them. Even though you get money from financial aid doesn’t mean college will

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My mother and father have always wanted the best for me, like all good parents do. One of the many things that they expect from me is to receive a college education, something that they never had the chance to do. My parents always advise me to not to make the same mistakes as they did, to go to college so I can get a good job and not have to struggle in my life. With no alternative, my father had to drop out of school to help his family financially after his parents had gotten a divorce, and then he had received his GED.

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Is College Really Worth it? Many college graduates are currently unemployed, which has left many parents wondering, is college really worth it? Some parents believe that college prepares students for more than a job or career, and others don’t think it’s worth the cost. Recent studies have shown that new college students are losing ground on wages by the time they graduate, higher education is becoming a risky investment, and most students are better off developing their own “lower-risk” business.

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The total U.S. student loan debt now surpasses $1.2 trillion and there is more than 40 million recipients owing on federal and private student loans (Malone). Most of the college students in the United States can’t afford their education by themselves and, as a result, students end up drowning in student loans in order to earn a degree. Student debt is a major problem in the US, and it is a major influence on the gap between rich and poor. A more accessible college education would help reduce the gap between rich and poor in the United States.

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As a first generation student to attend college from a family of seven, the journey to a higher education has been arduous and overwhelming. My family gives me all the encouragement I need and are very optimistic about pursuing a higher degree. Unlike myself, my parents did not have the opportunity to attend college. My parents were born and raised in a small town in Mexico where the highest level of education they received was fifth grade. I have worked since I was 14 years old to support my parents with bills, and also saving for college and my own vehicle.

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Parents across the nation have found it much harder to pay for their children’s education due to these rising costs. For example, in states like Arizona, Georgia, and Oklahoma “parents have seen a 77 percent increase in costs. In Georgia, it's 75 percent, and in Washington state, 70 percent” (citation). These rising costs would be especially challenging for young adults. Working for a college education is a challenge, and many cannot overcome it.

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Growing up, for most people, going to college is not an option- its an expectation. In our society, going to college has become a fundamental part of our education, becoming an adult, and for most people just simply part of our lives. However, as people grow up and experience reality, the realization hits that college may not be as simple as once thought. As much as attending college is expected from the majority of young people, dropping out of college is not. Even with the idealization of the college experience, some students are forced to cut their education short due to a plethora of issues.

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