FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS Alex Gonzalez & Jennifer Satalino NELA Center for Student Success

WHO ARE WE  Paid Staff  AmeriCorps Members  Work Study Students  Volunteers  Students  Families

WHY WE’RE HERE  To meet the needs in our community in the areas of planning and paying for education after high school

WHAT WE DO Help students with:  meeting high school graduation and/or college entrance requirements  college selection and application process  financial aid and finding scholarships  essay writing  All Free!

FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS Alex Gonzalez & Jennifer Satalino NELA Center for Student Success

WHO IS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT? Your words:

FIRST GENERATION DEFINITIONS  Students not having a parent who graduated from college with a baccalaureate degree  Thomas, et al., 1998  Students whose parents have had no college or university experience  Bilson and Terry, 1982

“FIRST GENERATION”- NCES  First in the family to attend college  A member of the first generation of a family to attend college  Parents without a baccalaureate degree

“FIRST GENS” TEND TO BE  From low income families  Members of a racial or ethnic minority group  More likely to be female  Lower scoring on college entrance exams  Less prepared academically  Lacking support from those at home, particularly family and friends

CHARACTERISTICS:  Linear  Time  Analytic/Abstract  Self-Disciplined/Focused  Ability to delay gratification  Ability to Strategize

DONNA BEEGLE

CHARACTERISTICS OF PRINT CULTURE:  Linear  Time  Analytic/Abstract  Self-Disciplined/Focused  Ability to delay gratification  Ability to Strategize

CHARACTERISTICS OF ORAL CULUTURE  Relationships  Spontaneous  Repetitive  Holistic  Emotional  Present-Oriented  Agonistic

CASE STUDIES  Print Culture  Oral Culture  We report. You decide

CASE STUDY NUMBER ONE  All students assigned account when application is received.  Communication takes place over  Automated document requests  Complete all paperwork online  Fax in tax returns and scanned in  Superefficient financial aid office of the future!

CASE STUDY 1- PRINT CULTURE  Student logs into their campus  Feels part of the campus even before they arrive  Student and parents respond to Verification Requests  Student fills in promissory note and Entrance Interview online  Happy with the efficiency- feels ready to start!

CASE STUDY 1- ORAL CULTURE  Didn’t access website; didn’t know about the account  Waits to hear back from the college  Misses Verification deadline  Asks for paper Prom Note  Asks for help with Entrance Interview  Doesn’t check

CASE STUDY NUMBER TWO  High need high school  Families not attending Financial Aid Night  Fewer each year  Basketball or other events conflict with Financial Aid Night  Counselors feeling overwhelmed and un- prepared to hold hands during the financial aid process

CASE STUDY NUMBER TWO  Basketball game  Half Time Show  Five minutes  Involved cheerleaders & placards

CASE STUDY 2- ORAL CULTURE  Felt excited  Generated “buzz” in school and community  Motivated to take action  Younger siblings paid attention as well

CASE STUDY 2- PRINT CULTURE  Felt uncomfortable  Felt that Alex “dumbed down” the message  Had nothing to take away or take home- no flyer, no brochure  Has already done her FAFSA- why would we wait until Jan 28 th to have this message delivered?

EXTREME EXAMPLES- LESSONS?  Control your message  “Cliff Notes”  Distribution Process  Encoding/Decoding  What did you take away?

WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW?  Printed information.  Financial aid.  College admissions.  Scholarship opportunities.  Great information.  College access.  Accessing help.

WHAT CAN WE DO? PARTNER  Community programs  Other mentor  Share knowledge  Be a mentor

WHAT CAN WE DO? CONTENT  Language  Directions.  Example: “Google Maps”.  Create your own program for your community.  Limit Topic  Encourage

 Recognizing the many small steps necessary to get to college.  Declaring intent to attend college.  College selection.  Scholarship search.  Essay writing.  FAFSA or undocumented alternative.  College applications.  Celebrating each milestone. WHAT CAN WE DO? SMALL VICTORIES

WHAT CAN WE DO? MENTOR  Become a mentor yourself.  Implement a mentoring program.  Expand an existing program.  Create your own program.  Become an expert resource for mentoring programs in your community.  Talk about and encourage mentoring.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT?  Practice makes you better  Walk through an example  My Pet Peeve “The Magic FAFSA”  “you’re done!”  FAFSA is all you need  NCAN presentation

MAGIC FAFSA  What are our Cliff Notes?  FAFSA is the first step  Communicate with your Financial Aid Office  Give them what they ask for  OSAC  Apply to many to get any  Scholarship Search is a year ‘round sport  Magic OSAC

PRACTICE  Organize for private scholarships  Finding and applying  Scholarships are not just for high school students  Not just your 4.0 students  Graduating in 4 years is a scholarship itself!  FAFSA school code= college admission

 FAFSA every year!  Have a financial plan- get help if you need it  Make a plan!  Work your plan  Tell somebody else your plan  READ  Ask questions if you don’t understand!

 Apply for housing  Make yourself available- come in and ask me if you need help  Don’t assume students can use the computer  Cycle of life for financial aid

MEDIA  Online  Mail  Text  Facebook  Phone  Counselor / Mentor/ Agency