Document Type

Poster

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Location

Online

Start Date

7-4-2022 10:00 AM

End Date

12-4-2022 10:00 AM

Abstract

First-generation students are a unique type of student. Both complicated and misunderstood, this subculture provides an increasing challenge for student affairs professionals. Nearly 25% of the overall undergraduate population is first-generation, with first-generation being defined as students without parents who went to college (Engle & Tinto, 2008). There is little research on how or why first-generation students choose their higher education institution. Understanding first-generation students and how they choose their higher education institution is important as the population of first-generation students is rising, thus creating a need for understanding this for recruitment professionals at institutions. The first research question was how much emphasis first-generation students put on finances, including student loans, grants and scholarships. The second research question was how much attention first-generation students pay to majors, degree options and campus resources when making a college decision. The third and final research question addressed was how much of a first-generation students college choice was influenced by family pressures and ties. As for methodology, there was an online survey created with 10 questions where the different factors were rated 1 to 5, with 1 not being considered when making a higher education choice and 5 being highly considered when making a choice. The findings were as expected and assumed. Finances were the strongest factor in choosing a higher education institution for first-generation students. It averaged a score of 4.8 on the rating scale of 1 to 5. The next most important factor that first-generation students considered was degrees offered by the institution. It averaged a 4.0 on the 1 to 5 rating scale. The two factors that the first-generation students indicated was least important to them when making a higher education institution decision was residence halls and family ties to the institution. Understanding all of the different factors that first-generation students take into consideration when making a higher education institution decision is important to a university staying relevant to that conversation and continuing to recruit first-gen students.

Research Symposium Presentation-Claire Kerr.mov (297684 kB)
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Apr 7th, 10:00 AM Apr 12th, 10:00 AM

First-Generation Students: How This Subculture Chooses Their Higher Education Institution

Online

First-generation students are a unique type of student. Both complicated and misunderstood, this subculture provides an increasing challenge for student affairs professionals. Nearly 25% of the overall undergraduate population is first-generation, with first-generation being defined as students without parents who went to college (Engle & Tinto, 2008). There is little research on how or why first-generation students choose their higher education institution. Understanding first-generation students and how they choose their higher education institution is important as the population of first-generation students is rising, thus creating a need for understanding this for recruitment professionals at institutions. The first research question was how much emphasis first-generation students put on finances, including student loans, grants and scholarships. The second research question was how much attention first-generation students pay to majors, degree options and campus resources when making a college decision. The third and final research question addressed was how much of a first-generation students college choice was influenced by family pressures and ties. As for methodology, there was an online survey created with 10 questions where the different factors were rated 1 to 5, with 1 not being considered when making a higher education choice and 5 being highly considered when making a choice. The findings were as expected and assumed. Finances were the strongest factor in choosing a higher education institution for first-generation students. It averaged a score of 4.8 on the rating scale of 1 to 5. The next most important factor that first-generation students considered was degrees offered by the institution. It averaged a 4.0 on the 1 to 5 rating scale. The two factors that the first-generation students indicated was least important to them when making a higher education institution decision was residence halls and family ties to the institution. Understanding all of the different factors that first-generation students take into consideration when making a higher education institution decision is important to a university staying relevant to that conversation and continuing to recruit first-gen students.