Blog
Find advice and follow the college experiences of our current first-gen student bloggers.
My Personal Battle for A College Education
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. I still recall being a freshman college student in the balcony section of the first convocation of the year. The college president was giving us a speech about college life...
How to Choose a Recommender
Hey I'm First Bloggers! Here's a short video blurb about who I chose to write my letter of recommendation and why. I also provide some feedback on how to choose that teacher/ staff member.
relax, breathe, SHOP
Looking for a college is no small task. There is so much to look for and consider. I mean I thought I knew what I was looking for in a college and I felt pretty set about my choices. But then the adults started drilling me with questions: “What’s the teacher to...
Sometimes it is Scary
Sometimes I sit in the library and I cannot help but question if I'm doing the right thing by being in college. You know, I've always wanted to go to college and I thought maybe if I attended I would know for sure if I wanted to be here, but the truth is, I really do...
Transitioning from College to the Workforce as a First-Gen: An Interview with Dr. Matt Lynch
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Is it a myth that earning a college degree will allow first-generation students to smoothly transition into the workforce? First-generation college students face the same...
From Wisconsin to England: One First-Generation Student's Journey
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. From a small city in a big country to a big city in a small country, my journey from Wisconsin to England was a dream come true. In 2011 I graduated from Cardinal Stritch...
ANOTHER College Search Tool? This One’s a Bit Different…
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. There are more than 4,000 degree-granting post-secondary institutions in the US. Many high school students don't know where to start. And it's even more intimidating for...
Tune in to I'm First's Live Video on Oct.10th!
Univision and CollegeWeekLive have teamed up for the second Univision Virtual College Fair, coming up on October 10, 2013 from 12 – 10 p.m. EDT. Designed for first-generation students and their families, this free event provides the opportunity to: Live chat in both...
How to Start a First-Gen Student Support Group on Campus
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Support groups can be a powerful way for first-generation students to find community with like-minded people in a safe environment. Educational research on first-generation...
A Teen Mother's Story: The Road to a College Degree is Hard but Worth It
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. My advice to any college student is to work hard, and this is definitely true for students who are the first in their family to attend college. I grew up in a family where...