Promoting College Access for First-Generation Students in Rural America

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I am a student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies EdM program at Boston University, and I am passionate about supporting the academic, professional, and personal goals of first-generation and underrepresented student populations in higher education. More specifically, I am interested in helping students -- especially those from rural communities like the one I grew up in -- navigate the often difficult transition between high school and college.

At the root of this transition issue is the reality that many rural, first-generation college students often lack the rigorous academic preparation, financial resources, and know-how of their peers whose parents attended college and were able to pass down the wisdom of their lived experiences. Without these support systems, rural students are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to applying for college and taking full advantage of the opportunities available on campus if they do get there. These students are as worthy of a college education as everyone else, but the question remains: How do we support their aspirations when society seems to be content to maintain the roadblocks that stand in their way?

For a start, research has shown that providing families and schools with practical information and resources that support rural high school students’ college aspirations has a positive impact on the college-going rate of those students (King, 2012). Moreover, it’s important to help students understand whether their college aspirations are well-aligned with the career paths that they hope to pursue in order to help them avoid potentially costly (both literally and figuratively), long-term decisions (Meece et al., 2013). Schools, families, and communities need to make joint, harmonious efforts to better prepare high-achieving students in their pursuit of post-secondary education. Here are some ways to make it happen.

[if !supportLists]1. [endif]Encourage parents and extended family members to take an active, informed role in helping students make decisions about their future goals and aspirations.

[if !supportLists]2. [endif]Provide schools with trained personnel that have experience in providing both career and college counseling services.

[if !supportLists]3. [endif]Make the process of higher education planning a community event! Run free, open workshops on topics like financial aid, selecting a major, and writing a personal statement.

On this last point, readers of this post who overcame similar obstacles in order to attend college should consider volunteering to mentor high school students in their area. Paying it forward could be all it takes to change a life for the better.

References

King, S. B. (2012). Increasing college-going rate, parent involvement, and community participation in rural communities. Rural Educator, 33(2), 20-26. Retrieved February 6, 2018, from

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ987617.pdf.

Meece et al. (2013). Preparing for adulthood: A recent examination of the alignment of rural youth’s future educational and vocational aspirations. Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 3(2). Retrieved March 7, 2018, from

http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jedp/article/view/31348/18330