Overcoming Common Application Challenges Faced by First-Generation Online Students

application challenges first generation students

The Unique Struggles First-Generation Students Face

If you’re one of the 56% of first-generation students in the US, read on because this is for you. We’ll discuss common application challenges for first-generation students and ways to overcome them. Who are first-generation students? The following makes you one:

  • You’re the first person in your family to go to college and earn a four-year college degree
  • Your parents don’t have a four-year college degree
  • Your parents earned an associate degree
  • Your parents pursued a four-year college degree but didn’t finish it

First-generation students face unique application challenges that their continuing-generation peers don’t. Online students face another aspect of their college journey, too – technology. Of course, every first-gen student has a unique experience with the application process. The most common challenges, however, include:

  • Absence of family guidance
  • Limited access to resources
  • Difficulty in navigating the application process

 You can overcome these application challenges with the right mindset and strategies.

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Challenge #1: Lack of Familial Guidance

Many first-generation online students don’t have family members they can turn to for college application advice. None of their parents or siblings were enrolled or have attended college. There’s nobody to give useful information about the application steps, from preparing for the SAT/ACT to submitting their applications on time.

Without proper family guidance, it’s also easy to miss out on affordable online colleges. With the rising costs of college, it’s a missed opportunity few first-gen students can afford. When combined with the failure to file their FAFSA forms on time, it’s another missed opportunity.

Indeed, first-generation students can find the college application process more stressful. Even when they enter college, there’s a feeling of being at a disadvantage.

While family members can’t give first-hand advice, check out external resources instead. These resources offer useful tips for applying to online colleges for first-gen students.

Talk to your school counselors and academic advisors.

Your school counselor will provide support and guidance about the college application process. Their guidance covers every step in the process, including:

  • Creating a list of online colleges that meet your interests, goals, and resources
  • Studying for standardized exams
  • Writing your personal statement and resume
  • Requesting for letters of recommendation
  • Filing and submitting your financial aid applications

Your academic advisor can also provide support in these matters. Be sure to discuss these matters with them as early as possible, say, in your third year of high school. With regular consultations, you can stay on track with your college applications.

If your high school offers college and career readiness programs, attend them, too. The more you know, the less you’ll feel overwhelmed by the application process.

Read online tutorials and guides.

Then, read free online tutorials and guides about the college application process. Consider reliable websites that provide comprehensive guides for incoming college students. Examples include Khan Academy, College Board, and The Princeton Review. 

Check out YouTube, too, because there are several channels for this purpose. Official college websites also have specific application guides for first-generation students. UCLA, UT Austin, and UF are great examples.

Take advantage of college preparatory and outreach programs.

Many programs target first-generation students seeking useful college application strategies. Start with the TRIO federal programs – Upward Bound, GEAR UP, and Talent Search. While every program has specific targets and goals, these offer college readiness services.  

Then, check out community-based and nonprofit organizations that offer college readiness programs, too. You’ll find these organizations fill in the gaps brought by the lack of familial guidance:

  • AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
  • College Horizons
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  • Posse Foundation
  • Let’s Get Ready

There are also many online communities for first-generation students. Check out ImFirst.org and FirstGenU for this purpose.

Don’t wait until you’re a senior high school student to access these resources. Being proactive in tapping into these resources means filling in familial gaps ASAP. By the time you’re in senior high school, you’re ready to overcome said challenge.

But the lack of familial guidance doesn’t mean the absence of familial support. Your parents and siblings can play crucial roles in your application success. Their moral support and practical help in tracking your application, are valuable.

Challenge #2: Limited Access to Resources

Indeed, there are many useful resources for first-generation students. However, not every first-generation student has easy and effective access to these resources.

Many first-generation students are in underfunded high schools without robust college preparation programs. Many are in rural or remote schools with little to no access to these programs. Even the TRIO programs are only available in selected, usually urban, schools.

First-gen students struggle with access to these specific resources:

  • College advisors whose expert guidance makes the college application process easier to navigate 
  • Financial aid guidance for taking advantage of scholarships, grants, and work-study programs
  • Test preparation services that increase their chances of passing the SAT/ACT

The geographical barriers aren’t the only thing standing in the way of success in the application process for first-generation students. The financial barriers also make it seem impossible for low-income first-generation students. SAT/ACT preparation courses cost between $500 and $1,500/per course. The SAT and ACT exam fees cost between $60 and $98, aside from other fees (e.g., report fees).

And then there are the college application fees that range from $40 to $90 and above. If you’re applying to several online colleges, it will add up.

The good news is that there are effective solutions to overcome said challenges. These are free and low-cost resources that offer college admissions guidance:

Online college counseling tools

If your high school doesn’t have college advisors, look for online resources. These reliable websites provide free college counseling tools, including application and admission tips.

  • College Vine provides personalized college preparation advice. You can use its free tools to build your college list, write your essay, and complete your application.
  • Coalition App and Common App provide useful application guides to improve your admission chances. You can use these platforms to apply to many colleges with one set of documents, too.

You should check out our comprehensive resources, too.

Free and low-cost test preparation services

Many online colleges don’t require SAT/ACT scores in their admissions requirements. But if you’ve chosen online colleges that require satisfactory SAT/ACT scores, it can be an issue. As previously mentioned, the costs are a significant barrier, especially for low-income students.

You can overcome the challenge by taking advantage of these test preparation services.

  • Khan Academy SAT Prep offers free access to free SAT preparation courses. These include full-length practice tests and thousands of practice questions.
  • ACT Academy provides full-length practice tests and interactive practice questions, too. You can also identify and work on your weak areas.
  • PrepScholar offers free practice tests and tips to improve your SAT or ACT scores. There are also paid test preparation options.

While these are effective standardized preparation resources, these are only tools. As such, you have the ultimate responsibility to use them to your advantage.

Community-based programs

Besides the abovementioned nonprofit organizations, look for local community-based programs in your area, too. Getting in-person college preparation services has its advantages over online services. In New York City, for example, look for NYC College Line and Bottom Line NYC, among others.

Challenge #3: Navigating the Application Process

The answers to the question, “How to apply to online colleges?” are basic. Understand the application requirements. Gather your application documents. Check their completeness and accuracy. Submit them on time. Wait for the admission decision. Start the enrollment process if you’re accepted.

But for first-gen students, these are challenging steps because of their unfamiliar complexity. The college forms are complicated with several sections of information. Personal information, academic history, and extracurricular involvement are common. Every college has a specific application form, too.

There are also many college application deadlines to remember. Making decisions and taking the right course of action are crucial. Then, financial aid deadlines and deadlines for letters of recommendation and official transcripts add to the confusion. Every college has specific deadlines, too, so keeping up is a challenge.

And to add to the confusion are the different admission requirements and criteria among online colleges. Essays, for example, have different prompts. Letters of recommendation may have different formats between colleges.

There’s also the rising trend of holistic admissions, where applicants are evaluated as a “whole person.” Applicants feel pressure to excel in every area – academics, extracurriculars, compelling story – to stand out.

But don’t let these challenges become insurmountable obstacles in your college journey. Adopt these effective college application tips for first-generation students and overcome them.

  • Create a master calendar of deadlines. Be sure to include application, federal financial aid, and scholarship deadlines. Use both traditional and digital calendars. Set reminders, such as alarms, at least two weeks before the deadlines.
  • Understand the college application forms first. Print them out as drafts and fill in the required information. When you’re sure of their accuracy and completeness, fill in the official application forms.
  • Use the Common App or Coalition App, among others, when necessary. You only need to fill in one application form for many colleges. But you may also be instructed to fill in a college-specific application form.
  • Highlight your strengths in your application documents, such as your personal statement or essays.

The college application process is challenging for every college student. But as millions of college students can attest, it’s manageable with effective planning and a proactive mindset.

Financial Aid and Scholarships for First-Generation Students

There’s a wide range of programs for financial aid for first-generation students available. With the average tuition and fees ranging from $11,011 to $24,513/year in public colleges, it’s a must. Otherwise, out-of-pocket costs can end your college dreams.

Here are the financial aid opportunities, including scholarships for first-generation students.

  • Federal aid includes Pell Grants, FSEOG, and work-study. File your FAFSA form before the deadline to avoid missed opportunities.
  • State aid for first-gen students is available, too. Examples include the California Dream Act, Florida Student Assistance Grant, and Ohio College Opportunity Grant.
  • Institutional aid is also a viable option. Many online colleges offer specific scholarships for first-generation students, such as Oregon State University and Florida State University.
  • Private scholarships targeted at first-gen students are popular, too. Check out The Gates Scholarship, The Dell Scholars Program, and The Horatio Alger Association Scholarship.

When applying for financial aid, keep these tips in mind.

  • Start researching financial aid opportunities ASAP.
  • Submit tailored applications, particularly for college and private scholarships.
  • Highlight your unique story and suitability for the scholarship.
  • Give strong letters of recommendation.
  • Stay organized by keeping your documents in designated folders and keeping up with deadlines.

Also, take advantage of tuition discounts and fee waivers.

Conclusion: Overcoming These Hurdles and Succeeding

Nobody said overcoming college application challenges is easy, especially for first-generation students. The lack of familial guidance, limited access to resources, and the challenge of navigating the complex application process make it even more difficult. But these challenges aren’t insurmountable either.

With the right mindset, strategies, and resources, these challenges are manageable. Start by changing your mindset from “It’s impossible for a first-gen student” to “It’s possible because I will make it so.” When you have a can-do attitude, you’re in the right direction.

Then, identify the college application challenges in your way. Your next step is determining the best resources and services that will address these challenges. Start with your school’s resources, such as your academic advisor and school counselor. Look for community resources since these are more accessible. Consider online resources, too, for self-paced guidance.

In the end, your success lies in your hands. While you may be at a disadvantage now, you can use it to your advantage soon.