4 Tips for First-Gen Students
Alejandro De Anda ’20, Screen Acting Major with Minor in Entrepreneurship
I wanted to go to a school where I would find a community I can rely on to give me advice and guidance. I’ve made great connections and friends at Chapman, and I always see someone I know when I walk across campus. Here are my tips to help first-generation students make school feel like home:
1. Make connections at the beginning. If you can, attend Chapman’s Summer Bridge Program. It’s held the week before the fall semester, and I got to meet other first-gen students and learn about resources for incoming students. I stayed in contact with people from the program, and we do our best to help each other. It was awesome to get that community right away.
2. Ask “dumb” questions. Some of the best advice I got was straightforward. People in Summer Bridge told me about going to professors’ office hours and keeping an eye on your school email. No one will get mad at you for asking a “dumb” question about stuff like that. If you don’t ask, you might miss out on something that can really help.
3. Put yourself out there. I know it’s intimidating to put yourself in new social situations, but in study groups and clubs, lots of people are meeting each other for the first time. Becoming part of study groups has helped me develop solid habits and succeed in my general education courses. Chapman’s other clubs and organizations also helped me expand my community at school.
4. Reach out to the Promising Futures staff. Current first-gen students work for Promising Futures and can answer questions and give advice. They’ll help you with anything related to college, from questions about signing up for classes to where to get coffee. (There’s a Starbucks next to Attallah Piazza.)
Visit our webpage to learn more about resources for new and current first-gen students. You can also email us with any questions about first-gen resources at [email protected].