First-Generation College Students: The Influence of Family on College Experience

According to Bradbury and Mather (2009), in the 2003-2004 academic school year 45% of new students enrolling in four-year institutions were first-generation students. When compared to continuing-generation college students, first-generation students have been shown to find the college going experience to be more stressful (Phinney & Haas, 2003). Despite the knowledge that these students find the college going experience to be more stressful, prior research has failed to examine the relationship between the families of these students and their college experience. Qualitative data was collected through three semi-structured focus group interviews with first-generation college students. Of the 19 participants, 37% (n=7) were male and 63% (n=12) were female and all were between the ages of 18 and 25. Based on the coding procedures for this study, five categories related to family influence emerged: (a) support; (b) understanding; (c) motivation; (d) goal achievement and (e) expectations.