Welcome to our George Mason How to Navigate College Guide!
On behalf of Student Government and the First-Gen+ Center, we are excited to share this guide for first-generation college students in hope to provide you with information and resources to help you succeed in your academic journey.
George Mason University prides itself on diversity, access, and inclusion with almost 40% of our students identifying as the first in their families to attain a college degree. Among our first-gen student body, 33% qualify for need-based Pell Grants, a figure higher than the average for Virginia – not accounting for those students whose immigration situation denies them access to Federal Student Aid. Moreover, research and trends in higher education have found that students from these backgrounds face additional challenges in navigating complex systems to receive the proper support, service, and representation that will make a positive impact in their success, promote their well-being, and enhance their development as rising professionals. Additionally, student voices have expressed that the lack of prior family experience in higher education adds stress and negatively impacts their overall wellness, making it challenging to know where to turn for help or how to prioritize tasks effectively.
This guide aims to alleviate some of that overwhelming feeling by offering clear and practical information to support you in every step of the way – and most importantly, to reaffirm that you belong at George Mason and that our institution has the resources and passionate community to help you succeed. Though this site was created with the intention to elevate the experiences of the first-generation and immigrant student communities at The University, we hope that the resources and support throughout this guide can be useful to any student regardless of their identities or background to thrive as a Patriot.
The term first-generation college student applies to those students whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) either:
- Did not receive or complete any level of post-secondary education
- Enrolled at or earned a two-year degree from a community college
- Earned any level of post-secondary education outside the United States.
As of Fall 2019, George Mason University reported that 20% of first-time freshmen were first-generation college students, whereas 28% were undergraduate degree-seeking first-generation college students. First-generation college students face various challenges when trying to excel both academically and socially within college. This happens because first-generation students come from various backgrounds, many of which have very limited knowledge about the details of college. Because this is the case, it is important to provide first-generation students with the support needed in order to succeed in college and make the most out of that experience.