Hi everyone!
I hope you’re having a good start to your Halloweekend! (I’m going to dress as an 80s aerobics instructor!) I’m coming to you from a FirstGen@Scripps mixer that I’m currently at. I asked the current first-gen students what advice they have for first-gen prospective students and this is what they said!
Firstly, don’t feel pressured to have it all together. Applying to college is a very scary process as a first-generation student, especially if you’re going through it alone. It’s isolating and stressful. Sometimes, there’s no one you can confide in because no one really understands the experience of applying to college as first-gen except for other first-gen students. You’ll get through this. And I know that because we got through it and made it to the other side! <3
Moreover, don’t worry too much about the number of colleges you’re applying to. A few of us made the mistake of applying to as many colleges as possible, which resulted in us getting burned out very quickly. Just focus on colleges you’re actually interested in to ensure you’re putting your energy into writing a very strong application. AND remember to practice self-care!
In addition to people on the Admission team, talk to people who aren’t being paid to talk to you. While talking to the Admission team is very important to get formal information, talking to regular students (especially first-gen students) will be really helpful to get the complete truth about Scripps and not just a polished version. You can reach out to current first-gen students by emailing at: [email protected].
Don’t feel afraid to ask “dumb” questions. No question is a dumb question! Feel free to email offices directly. If you have a financial aid question, email Scripps’ financial aid office! If you have a question about a particular major, email a current student with that major! If you’re interested in a club at Scripps, DM them on Instagram!
Anyway, these are just a few tidbits of advice from first-gen students. This isn’t all of the advice we have to bestow so feel free to email FirstGen@Scripps or email me at [email protected]!
Have a good spooky weekend!