Manuela Castano (B’24) shares how Georgetown’s Mastering the Hidden Curriculum course prepared her for success as a first-generation college student.
Topics: First-generation students
Defining ‘first-gen student’: New report explores complexities, limitations
A new brief explores what we can learn about students’ college preparedness by looking at the education history of each parent.
Who is considered a ‘first-generation’ college student?
Colleges and policymakers often differ on how to define a “first-generation” college student. A new brief explores the assumptions at play—and how they affect programmatic support.
Why are so few students attending professors’ office hours?
Meeting with professors can boost a student’s academic performance and career readiness, but students are hesitant to show up. Professors are investigating the source of the problem and ways to promote this untapped opportunity to students who need it the most.
‘For the first time in the classroom, I felt seen’: Georgetown graduate reflects on leaving behind a legacy for first-gen students
Alumna Sofia Chen Ma (B’23) discusses her journey from a small town in Mexico to the McDonough School of Business, the person who inspires her the most, and how the Georgetown Scholars Program helped her embrace her authentic self and thrive.
Comedy event raises more than $1.7 million for Georgetown Scholars Program
Featuring Jim Gaffigan, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, and Nick Kroll, the sold-out Stand Up for Georgetown show raised over $1.7 million to support undergraduates in the Georgetown Scholars Program.
Could direct admissions reduce barriers for low-income, first-gen students?
Although direct admissions can open doors to postsecondary education for students from underrepresented communities, a simpler application process isn’t enough to make college truly accessible, some experts say.
Building bridges to college for traditionally underrepresented students
Hoping to strengthen the path to higher education, college exposure programs and non-profit organizations are creating opportunities for high school students from historically underrepresented communities to earn credits and see themselves in that environment.
How ‘spaces of belonging’ can help first-gen students thrive
First-generation college students benefit significantly when institutions provide a dedicated campus center that supports their full participation in the college experience and signals their importance to the campus community.
Study: GPA thresholds for popular majors limiting upward mobility for low-income students and students of color
A study from researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Yale University highlights the unintended consequences of using GPA requirements to restrict access to in-demand majors.
Georgetown summer programs seek to increase access through application assistance, mentorship for prospective undergraduate and graduate students
This summer, Georgetown hosted several in-person programs that provided opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds to build foundational relationships with peers and faculty, and to explore academic interests.
9 ways colleges can expand supportive services for first-gen students
A new survey of first-generation college students from Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse sheds light on students’ awareness of available supports and which they consider especially crucial.