First-Generation Students

Q: Who are first-generation college students?

A: A first-generation college student is defined as a college student with "neither parent having received a four-year college degree."

• At Rutgers–New Brunswick, we think of it more as any student who may self-identify as not having prior exposure to or knowledge of an experience like Rutgers, and may find having resources to assist in the transition helpful.
• According to the U.S. Department of Education and Higher Education Act of 1965, “the term ‘first-generation college student’ means 
  • (A) An individual both of whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or 
  • (B) In the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, an individual whose only such parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree.”

Further, First-Gen Forward notes, “While defining first-gen may appear overwhelming and complicated, it is important to remember why it is important. Because identification as a first-generation college student is most often self-reported in the matriculation process, there are inherent gaps in the data. Moreover, by not having a definition, it is nearly impossible for an institution to identify these students, track their academic and co-curricular progress, pinpoint needs for early intervention, highlight successes, measure critically important learning outcomes, and benchmark against other institutions and national data sets. Ultimately, the term ‘first-generation’ implies the possibility that a student may lack the critical cultural capital necessary for college success because their parents did not attend college. While first-generation students are often quite academically skilled and contribute in many ways to a campus community, navigating the tangled web of college policies, procedures, jargon, and expectations can be a challenge. This pervasive ‘hidden curriculum’ can damage the confidence of first-generation students, lead to struggles in belonging, and result in departure. This opens an opportunity for institutions to provide additional support for these students so they may be as competitive and successful as their peers."

Q: What is the RU1ST Alliance?

A: The RU1ST Alliance seeks to coordinate the support for first-generation students that occur on the New Brunswick campus at all of the undergraduate schools and departments with the aim to provide an opportunity to develop a sense of community for first-gen students at Rutgers–New Brunswick and help improve knowledge of and access to resources.

The RU1ST Alliance is a think-tank advisory for cross-division policy, research, and advocacy to enhance and support first-generation student success at Rutgers–New Brunswick, coordinated by the Office of the Provost. The alliance meets regularly to discuss best practices, examine resource needs by exploring student access and/or equity issues, recommend high-impact experiences, and maintain alignment with the success.rutgers.edu website as a resource and directory of support for first-generation students. This coordination effort aims to increase the visibility of resources and services available across campus, as well as provide a clearinghouse of best practices to be shared among schools, academic, and co-curricular units. With cross-campus representation, the alliance is charged to provide timely, ongoing recommendations to the Undergraduate Education Council and other academic and student affairs leaders, and to pivot with the changing needs for the support of all first-generation students as they may arise.

Q: What defines a transfer student?

A: You are a transfer student if:

• You are a high school graduate/GED holder, and
• You will have completed at least 12 college credits after leaving high school and a college transcript showing these courses and final grades earned will be submitted within the required due dates.

Q: What should EOF Transfer students know?

A: Transfer applicants should not complete the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) application. If you are a transfer student who has previously participated in the New Jersey EOF program at another NJ college, please do not complete the EOF application. In addition to submitting the FAFSA to the federal processor, you should submit an EOF Transfer Form from your previous NJ college where you were a recipient of the EOF grant or provide a statement from your previous EOF counselor/director certifying prior participation in their EOF program. This statement should be on your former NJ college's letterhead and mailed to Undergraduate Admissions.

Q: Where can I get information about Transfer Student Orientation?

A: Transfer and Non-Traditional Student Orientation Programs are traditionally one day long. For more information on orientation dates and how to register, visit New Brunswick New Student Orientation's page. If you are a first-generation student who is transferring into Rutgers and need additional support, please contact us at ru1st@rutgers.edu to connect with someone who will be able to assist you during this transition.

Q: How many international students attend Rutgers?

A: Rutgers is home to more than 8,500 international students and scholars from about 125 countries around the world. They bring rich perspectives to campus that help to globalize our classrooms, labs, and clinics, contributing significantly to advancements in education, research, and service.

Rutgers Global provides immigration-related advising and processing, and cross-cultural programs for international students and scholars, as well as their spouses and dependents.

Rutgers Global conducts a comprehensive orientation for new international students every fall and spring semester. For more information and to register, please visit the International Student Orientation page.

Q: I am a first-generation student, but I am not an undergraduate student; how do I find information and resources for first-generation graduate students?

A: To access the first-generation graduate student resources and support, please visit the Office of Graduate Student Life, First Generation Graduate Student webpage for more information. Here you will find information on workshops, mentoring programs, events, and other services to support you as you navigate your graduate student journey.

Q: What resources are available to help me succeed at Rutgers?

A: We are committed to your success at Rutgers, including your timely degree completion, with minimal financial debt, employment or advanced study in your preferred field, and mastery of critical skills and competencies for post-graduate success. Enrolling and successfully completing 15 or more credits each semester will help put you on a path to timely graduation. Ensure you have the foundation in place to be successful. Explore success.rutgers.edu for resources on financial assistance, meeting your academic needs, staying healthy, and being safe, to support your timely degree completion.

• The words and phrases associated with attending college are often unfamiliar to new students. This glossary of terms, grouped in thematic areas, provides general definitions, as well as some Rutgers-specific definitions, to familiarize students with the words and terms used in regular communications. It also includes frequently used Rutgers acronyms.
• You can find resources at your school by visiting the Division of Access and Community Engagement website or contacting the RU1ST liaison at your school.
• Additionally, at Rutgers, there are many services provided to support your academic success, including the RU1ST transition course, Learning Centers, Writing Centers, Byrne Seminars, FIGS-First-Year Interest Group Seminars, Cultural Collaborative, and so much more!

Q: How do I pick a major, find a job, or start to think about what to do after college?

A: The Office of Career Exploration and Success (CES) provides resources to help explore your options, including career counseling, resume review, and information on clusters.

• Rutgers University – New Brunswick is committed to assisting students with making connections between their academic experience and their career paths. The university provides professional career-related advising, as well as resources and programs to help students:
  • Discover their interests, values, and skills;
  • Explore careers and majors through connections with alumni or industry research;
  • Gain practical experience through internships and other experiential opportunities; and
  • Pursue their post-graduation goals, whether they be employment or graduate school. 

The university has built relationships with alumni, prospective employers, and graduate schools to optimize opportunities while also maintaining strategic partnerships with campus departments to assist students. The Office of Career Exploration and Success, in partnership with campus career providers, offers the Rutgers Handshake platform as the primary source of internship and job postings. The system serves as your primary career management system.

• CES provides first-generation students with a helping hand as you navigate your way through Rutgers and beyond via the 4WARD Career Pathways Program. This is a space to focus on strengths and resiliencies, build confidence, and identify values-aligned employers. Additionally, there is opportunity for faculty and staff to serve on several Advisory Boards that support first-generation career development and success. Advisory Boards are comprised of campus partners, employers, CES staff, and student leaders. Together, they share best practices, discuss industry trend topics, and learn from each other on effective first-generation student outreach and service delivery strategies. Please contact Christine Anderson, EdD at christine.anderson@rutgers.edu to express interest in joining or for additional information.
• Academic advisors at the undergraduate schools for students to seek advice on issues including choosing a major, with “Rutgers is committed to helping all talented, hardworking students, regardless of background or situation, succeed in their academic work. Advising is led by each School and some groups and organizations offer additional advising resources, including those for adult learners, veterans, and first-generation students. Your success at Rutgers is always the first priority, and discussing any changing needs or circumstances with the appropriate staff before making decisions about your academics is key to your success.  If you need to make a change to your enrollment status or major, schedule a meeting with the advising office in your School to discuss pertinent processes and deadlines, and the impact on your academic progress. Rutgers’ academic advisors will provide you with guidance to best ensure your success and adherence to the university’s governing academic policies.

Q: Am I the only first-generation college student at Rutgers–New Brunswick?

A: You are not alone! Rutgers University has historically served first-generation students through various federal and state grant programs such as the Educational Opportunity Fund and TRIO Programs such as the pre-college outreach via Upward Bound, THRIVE Student Support Services, and the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.

• The New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) provides financial assistance and support services to eligible students such as counseling, tutoring, and developmental coursework to New Jersey students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. EOF students can contact EOF Counselors at their respective academic school:
  • School of Arts and Sciences EOF
  • School of Engineering EOF
  • School of Environmental and Biological Sciences EOF

Q: What expenses will I encounter at Rutgers–New Brunswick?

A: Education is a big investment, and finances should not be a barrier to your success at Rutgers. Looking for aid or scholarship opportunities? Rutgers offers funding for students based on financial need, exemplary academics, and other unique skills. There are also special funds set aside if you find yourself in an emergency situation. Need to pay your term bill or set up a tuition payment plan? Want some tips on how to best manage your money? That is available here, too. About 70% of Rutgers students work at least part-time while in school. A part-time job can be a great way to pay bills, build your resume, and grow your network. Research also shows that students who work part-time while in college not only learn valuable skills, but also tend to earn more when they graduate. Jobs are available both on- and off-campus. Some are designated for Federal Work Study students, others are not, and they cover a range of skills and interests. Check them out - you might find something you love.

Tips

• You should be prepared to buy books in the first days of each semester. However, you don't have to do that at the bookstore; compare bookstore prices with what you can find online to get the best deal.
• Plan to have some extra money each time you travel to and from campus.
• When you first arrive you will probably need some extra furniture or accessory items for your room, like lamps, cooking supplies if you're interested in that, rugs, hangers, bedding/blankets, towels, etc.

Q: How do first-generation students feel on campus? I am concerned about how I will be different, and what it will be like to be the first in my family to complete college. What can I expect?

A: First-generation college students face all of the same struggles as their non-first-generation counterparts. However, there are some issues that are unique to this group. It is important for first-generation students to know that they are not alone and that there are resources available for them. First-generation students have a range of feelings about being the first in their family to attend and complete college. These feelings can include:

• Excitement and anxiety over being away from home at college, on their own, and the first in the family to attend college.
• Responsibility to help pay for their education, perhaps even more so than students of higher socioeconomic status backgrounds.
• Guilt and shame about having the opportunity to attend college while others in the family had not been able or chosen to attend.
• Embarrassment and resentment over one’s socioeconomic status or the level of education in one’s family.
• Confusion over the entire college process, from application to graduation to job or graduate school searches.

Q: What makes a successful Rutgers–New Brunswick student?

A: The path toward student success is a combination of academics, involvement, wellness, and spirituality. Successful students seek and utilize the many resources available to support their path toward graduation. Also, successful students find healthy ways to manage their time, money, and maintain their health and motivation for staying in school. Rutgers provides academic support services to help students succeed in their courses, progress academically, and develop the skills and strategies necessary for success. Most students come to a point in their academics when they decide that working with other students or professional staff will benefit them. Whether you are finding a particular class more challenging than you anticipated or you just prefer to study with other people, tutoring or study group services may benefit you. There are a variety of services available on campus and online, such as one-on-one tutoring appointments, drop-in group tutoring, writing assistance, and weekly study groups. To find services that would best fit your needs and learning preferences, use the search tool below or browse the list of resources to identify which are available to you. Services provided by the University are free of charge. Some may be restricted to specific student groups. Please visit success.rutgers.edu for detailed success essentials to support your timely degree completion.

Q: How do I become a member of the Tri-Alpha National Honor Society? 

A: Membership into the Delta-Pi chapter of the Tri-Alpha National Honor Society at Rutgers–New Brunswick is invitation-only. Graduating seniors who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to join annually in the Fall semester via email invitation during First-Generation College Celebration Week. 

To be inducted, students must accept the invitation by the deadline specified in the email. The induction ceremony takes place annually in November, and parents, friends, and honorary inductees are invited to attend.

Eligibility for the Delta Pi Chapter at Rutgers–New Brunswick includes:

• You must have completed at least three full-time terms of study (minimum 30 credit hours), at least one of which must have been at Rutgers–New Brunswick (for transfer students, if applicable);
• You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 in all coursework; and
• You must come from a family where neither parent nor any legal guardian earned a bachelor’s degree.

There are no applications to join the Tri-Alpha. Nominated Rutgers–New Brunswick faculty and staff who were first–generation college students are also invited annually to join the Delta Pi Chapter, to help mentor first-generation students and continue to serve as first-gen champions on campus. View the benefits of becoming a member.

Q: What are some tips for parents/family members of first-generation students?

A: Parents and families can learn more about resources at parents.rutgers.edu where you will find information about the Rutgers Parent and Family Association and Newsletter.

Parents and families can also:

• Attend Parent and Family Orientation to become knowledgeable about the resources/services available to your student since parent/family support is key to the academic success of college students.
• Remind your students to make copies of all-important paperwork and to make sure to write down the name, department, date, and comments of the person they are speaking to when they contact different units on campus with questions.
• Remember that pursuing higher education does not mean that students will lose the values they were raised with.
• Your student may not be able to come home every weekend if they are living on campus—even if it is only 5 or 10 miles away and if they are living at home, they may not have the same amount of time to devote to family responsibilities as they did before.
• Be patient with yourselves and one another, especially since this is a learning experience for everyone (both you and your student)—you will all be learning about this transition process together!

Q: What do some of our current first-generation college students wish their parents knew?

A: View the following responses from our students: 

• "The pressure and stress that often comes with being in college."
• "To support me and try their best to understand what I am experiencing."
• "It is important for our parents to understand how hard college is and that the student will be under stress. The family should be supportive."

At times, students may feel overwhelmed, and parents can support their children with words of encouragement.