WASHINGTON, D.C.

First-generation students say navigating the admissions process and receiving continuing support after getting in are some of the key elements in raising their aspirations, according to a new study by the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education.

“Straight from the Source: What Works for First-Generation College Students” is based on interviews with Hispanic and Black students enrolled in TRIO’s Talent Search and Upward Bound programs in six Texas cities — Dallas, Edinburg, El Paso, Houston, Kingsville and San Antonio. The students were either from low-income backgrounds, were first-generation students or both.

According to Dr. Colleen O’Brien, director of the Pell Institute and a co-author of the report, it is not enough to raise first-generation students’ hopes and dreams.

“To make the successful leap to college, disadvantaged students need intensive help with the admissions and financial aid processes and a real comfort level with both campus life and college academic support resources. And once they are in college, the challenges to stay enrolled are just as significant,” O’Brien says.

At present, there are 6.5 million first-generation undergraduate students. The report also shows the wide range of issues first-generation students come across in their quest to finish college, such as understanding why college matters and involving family members in the transition. The study recommends prior exposure to college life and knowledge about financial aid programs, and, once enrolled, access to college-based support services.

“The students we interviewed said they were fortunate to participate in pre-college access programs and noted that many of their non-participant peers were at the mercy of schools and counselors who lacked the resources to effectively guide them into college,” O’Brien says. “Many of our recommendations address ways to expand access services beyond the limited population already being served.”