Embarking on a journey into the unknown... Boldly going where no relative has gone before... Blazing new trails. These are brave and exciting statements, but to any student who is first in the family to have the experience, it is an intimidating venture. First Generation College Students (First Gens) often receive mixed messages from their families—make us proud/don’t leave us. These students are “breaking,” not “keeping” the family tradition. Without guidance, First Gens often get lost in the maze of college life.

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cultural differences, first generation students, Ila Schauer

First generation students often require more attention than other students. Academic advisors can help ensure the success of these students when they are prepared. Advisors who apply the six practical suggestions listed in this article can guide first generation students through their toughest and most rewarding years and in turn help them graduate.

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proactive advising, communication, build relationships, at-risk students, student motivation, advising strategy, advising approaches, persistence, underprepared students, first generation students, Lorneth Peters, technology

As we continue to study First Generation College Students, we become increasingly aware of several subgroups within this special population of students. We can identify adult students with family and job responsibilities, those who are among the first in their families to be born in this country, and foster care alumni who are aging out of the foster care system as three subgroups advisors can assist. Each of these groups faces particular issues as they seek a college education. A closer look at these students reveals special needs that academic advisors must take into account if they are to provide these students with the care they require to succeed.

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proactive advising, build relationships, academic support, at-risk students, cultural differences, preparedness, underprepared students, adult learners, first generation students, Joseph Murray, Ila Schauer, Chris Bennette Klefeker

Foster Care Alumni are an often overlooked student subgroup within the First Generation student population.

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at-risk students, first generation students, Chris Bennett Klefeker

When academic advisors create partnerships with secondary school stakeholders, the results are far-reaching...

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retention, graduation rates, first year students, at-risk students, persistence, first generation students, Amanda Hodges

Successful college matriculation demands not only the rhetorical commitment to higher education but to a life structured to an acceptance that graduation from college is possible...The role of the advisor is to assist the student in making reasoned choices, acquiring needed skills, and serving as the “reality check” that will make college possible.

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role of advisor, at-risk students, community relationships, underprepared students, first generation students, Thomas Johnson

There are many ways in which academic advisors can work with first generation college students to help them understand the college student role as well as to academically and socially integrate into the campus community.

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retention, at-risk students, preparedness, underprepared students, Cynthia Demetriou, April Mann, first generation students

Transitioning from high school to college is a life-changing event for all students, but may be even more challenging for students who are academically underprepared… The adage Advising is Teaching is applicable where advisors use developmental theories to help students on academic probation enhance their education.

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at-risk students, probation, underprepared students, first generation students, Joy Cox

The steps detailed in this article have led to great improvement in the overall functioning of The Neighborhood Academy’s advising program, as well as commensurate improvement in student performance and the culture of the school.  It is hoped that our journey may, in some way, assist others in their efforts.

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community relationships, advising director, first generation students, Thomas Johnson

I came to realize, as I had not before, that advising is a form of teaching, that I could draw on my decades in the classroom. In all teaching, we need to find out where learning should begin; now I was learning about the students in a different context….

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first generation students, faculty advisors, Carmela McIntire