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How First-Generation College Students Can Navigate Admissions
First-generation college students can get help by connecting with current students, visiting via fly-in programs and contacting colleges.
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Anna Helhoski is a senior writer covering economic news and trends in consumer finance at NerdWallet. She is also an authority on student loans. She joined NerdWallet in 2014. Her work has appeared in The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today. She previously covered local news in the New York metro area for the Daily Voice and New York state politics for The Legislative Gazette. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Purchase College, State University of New York.
Des Toups Lead Assigning Editor | Student loans, repaying college debt, paying for college
Des Toups was a lead assigning editor who supported the student loans and auto loans teams. He had decades of experience in personal finance journalism, exploring everything from car insurance to bankruptcy to couponing to side hustles.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
3.59-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 11/1/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
Variable APR
5.34-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 11/1/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
3.49-15.49%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 10/25/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Variable APR
5.04-15.21%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 10/25/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Credible lets you check with multiple student loan lenders to get rates with no impact to your credit score. Visit their website to take the next steps.
First-generation students — those who are the first in their families to attend college — face more roadblocks on their way to postsecondary education than other students do.
They’re less likely to enroll. Among a group of high school students, 93% of those whose parents held a bachelor’s degree enrolled in college compared with 72% of students who enrolled when their parents didn't attend college, according to 2018 data by the National Center for Education Statistics.
And when first-generation students do seek to enroll, their parents are less able to answer questions about the admissions process, how student aid is granted or the logistics of a campus visit.
To help demystify the process for first-generation students, college admissions experts offered the following advice.
Seek support from admissions, guidance counselors
Contact admissions and guidance counselors for help with the process of getting into school, experts say.
At The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, for example, prospective students can participate in online live-chat sessions with admissions counselors, who are also accessible via email or in person.
"Every college has an admissions representative who is eager to assist you," says Lt. Col. John Powell Jr., director of admissions at The Citadel.
Then, to better understand the application process and where you should apply, ask questions, says Laura Stratton, director of admission at Scripps College in Claremont, California.
"Google terms you aren’t familiar with and follow up via phone or email if you don’t initially understand a part of the application, admission or financial aid process," she says. "Admission counselors can break things down in easy-to-understand steps and explain the confusing terminology."
As you consider where to attend, Kathryn Baugher, who has served as the interim vice president for enrollment at several colleges, recommends asking your high school’s guidance office for help finding colleges that might be a good fit for you.
When it comes to financial aid, former first-generation student Becky Wai-Ling Packard, now a professor of educational psychology at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, says to never make assumptions about a school’s support structure for students with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
"Many will provide more generous financial aid or advising support than you realize," she says.
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Don’t reinvent the wheel when other first-generation students can help you navigate the application process. Find students who are currently enrolled and ask about their experiences during the application process. Ask family and friends if they know anyone who would be willing to talk with you and crowdsource among your social networks — try looking for current first-generation students using hashtags like #firstgenstudent and #firstgenerationstudent.
It’s even better if you can find first-gen students who currently attend a school you’re interested in. Powell recommends asking your admissions representative for an introduction to a current student.
Visit campuses with fly-in programs
Visiting a campus could give you the firsthand experience you need to make a college choice. If visiting is cost-prohibitive, fly-in programs for students with lower incomes can make that possible. You may have to demonstrate financial need to qualify.
"Many colleges offer fly-in programs where students can see the school for themselves at little to no cost," Stratton says. "These programs usually include transportation, meals and a wide variety of sessions and activities to see if the school is a good match for you."
A 2013 Scripps College graduate and first-generation student, Lyanne Dominguez suggests applying to as many fly-in programs as possible.
"It is drastically different getting to know a school from a computer screen versus stepping on the campus and interacting with students and faculty," Dominguez says.
If attending an on-campus program isn’t doable, look for local opportunities to learn more about college offerings.
"Maximize your personal knowledge and network by attending district college fairs," says Lorenzo Gamboa, senior associate director of admission at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. "Talk with the admission representative and never leave without a business card."
Prepare to submit applications
Make an application plan. Apply to five to eight colleges, which are a mix of reach, safety and fit, experts say. Take your time with each application, while keeping deadlines in mind.
Get your documents together. Gather the materials you’ll need for applications — including transcripts, copies of awards certificates and teacher recommendations, Powell says.
Expect application fees. Most schools charge applicants about $50, but at some colleges it will cost up to $90. If you meet income requirements, you may qualify for a waiver on application fees.
Make applying for financial aid part of your process, too. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to access federal grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. If your school requires it, submit the CSS Profile for state and institutional aid.
There are also private scholarships exclusively available to first-generation students. To find one you qualify for, start with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Scholarships Search Tool. Then, check other scholarship databases such as Cappex.com, Scholly, The College Board, or "The Ultimate Scholarship Book." Scholarships can help fill gaps left over by other financial aid and can limit the number of loans you take on.
If there’s a gap to fill after applying for financial aid, you may need to use savings, income or loans to fill it. If you plan to borrow for college, start with federal student loans first before private loans. Federal loans offer more repayment options and loan forgiveness compared with private options.
