The first year of college can be overwhelming for any student.

However, it can be a particularly difficult transition for you if no one in your family has had the experience. Do not be discouraged. The simple fact that you have made it this far means that you have the intellectual qualifications to not only survive, but to succeed in your university experience.

This goal of success will be indispensable in your quest to gain admission into the graduate school of your choice. Although sometimes it may seem otherwise, the fact that you have experiences that will likely be different than many of your classmates is a great benefit.

Your unique perspective allows you to analyze research questions and to dissect theories in a manner that most cannot. Your ability to find previously undiscovered solutions to problems will make your scholarship stand out from others’.

Always remember that being a first generation student is a benefit, not an impediment, to your academic success.