The Truth About How Colleges See First-Generation College Students (FGCS). What Most Colleges Do to Help. How This Could Benefit Your Chances for Admission

The College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents

#061 – Today, on this solo episode, we uncover the default assumptions colleges and universities make about First-Generation College Students (FGCS). Those assumptions aim to guide the efforts higher education institutions make to support applicants who are considered FGCS. They have to do with the applicants’ academic preparation, ability to afford college, and the ability to manage the college admission process and college success. As the episode progresses, I present the different ways in which First-Generation College Students are defined, each depending on the college or organization doing the defining. This presents problems to students who may be classified as FGCS under one definition, but not under another. This issue gains importance as I reveal the ways in which most colleges and universities have taken steps to support FGCS. For many students, college success hinges on access to that support. Additionally, I talk about the reason why colleges and universities make such important efforts to assist FGCS, why it is important for students to find out if they fit the definition, and the simple way colleges re able to know the educational history of their applicants’ parents. Towards the end of the episode, I provide ways for FGCS to present the challenges most of them have to endure, in ways that allow them to shine during the college admission process. You can find the show notes to this episode at https://collegemetropolis.com/61. Please help our show by telling others about our show and by leaving us a 5-star rating and a positive review on the podcast platform you used to download this episode. That will go a long way in helping us reach other high school students and parents. Thank you!