FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS

1. FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS Alex Gonzalez & Jennifer SatalinoNELA Center for Student Success

2. WHO ARE WE • Paid Staff • AmeriCorps Members • Work Study Students • Volunteers • Students • Families

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

4. 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! WHAT WE DO

5. FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS Alex Gonzalez & Jennifer SatalinoNELA Center for Student Success

6. WHO IS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT? Your words:

7. 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

8. “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

9. “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

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

11. DONNA BEEGLE

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

13. CHARACTERISTICS OF ORAL CULUTURE • Relationships • Spontaneous • Repetitive • Holistic • Emotional • Present-Oriented • Agonistic

14. CASE STUDIES • Print Culture • Oral Culture • We report. You decide

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

16. CASE STUDY 1- PRINT CULTURE • Student logs into their campus email • 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!

17. CASE STUDY 1- ORAL CULTURE • Didn’t access website; didn’t know about the email 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 email

18. 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

19. CASE STUDY NUMBER TWO • Basketball game • Half Time Show • Five minutes • Involved cheerleaders & placards

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

21. 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 28th to have this message delivered?

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

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

24. WHAT CAN WE DO? PARTNER • Community programs • Other mentor • Share knowledge • Be a mentor

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

26. WHAT CAN WE DO? SMALL VICTORIES • 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.

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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!

32. 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

33. MEDIA • Online • Mail • Text • Facebook • Phone • Counselor / Mentor/ Agency