Working with college students is awesome

Here is a dirty little secret about my profession: We advisors like to share "war stories" about our students. That's right, we talk about you. We don't share students' personal information, and never give names, but we do like to share the juicy details about students...

And occasionally, it might end up in a Facebook post. Check out the latest college student antics I read from a colleague:

"Why do I love my job? Because I get to have meetings like the one I did right before lunch, where the student decided to protest our not letting him study naked in the lounge by stripping down to his birthday suit as he walked out of my office."

Most of the students we deal with are average folks, but every now and then something outrageous like this happens. Working with college students is awesome!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

College graduation rates: Income really matters

"We've got a problem in that we get low-income kids to college, but they don't persist to graduation," Smeeding said. "It's harder for them to find their way through. They get discouraged and they drop out."

This quote comes from a recent article in CNN Money called College graduation rates: Income really matters.

Although parts of the article may seem bleak for first generation and low income college students, I think it is a worthy read. I encourage you to check it out and discuss what the article has to say.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

5 colleges do well by low-income students

Earlier this month, The Chronicle of Higher Education ran an article about how only 5 colleges do well by low-income students. Yes, you read that right, only five. Epic fail, US colleges and universities. EPIC. FAIL.

Of course, I am (somewhat, but not entirely) shocked and appalled by this egregiously low number. Resources like Ask an Advisor are meant to supplement what colleges are doing... and apparently, that isn't much!

But don't take my word for it! Read the study that the article is based on for yourself. Remember, as a low income college student that is is so very important that you always look a little deeper into so-called research.

I will add this report to the Resources, too. Happy reading! 

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Advisor is back!

So, you might be wondering "Where the heck have you been, Advisor?" Well, long story short, I've had two eye surgeries and was blind for 3 weeks, but now I'm almost all better. Yay, I'm back! And it feels good to be back.

Photo credit: iatdxbgrade9english.blogspot.com

Now that I'm back in commission but still adjusting to my new vision, I'm going to slow down with Ask an Advisor, but still be here for first generation and low income college students. So that means I will still answer and post questions as they come in, but there will be less new non-question content--something like once a week or so.

If you're in summer school, I wish you a great day of academic achievement. If you're not, I hope you're enjoying your summer.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Advisor is sick

Earlier this week when I went to the doctor for a routine check up, I learned that I had a detached retina that will require surgery... surgery that I will be having later today. So, needless to say, Ask an Advisor will be out of commission for a little while.

Photo credit: http://kidsincludedtogether.blogspot.com/

I expect to be back to my old blogging, first generation and low income college student advising self some time around May 2nd, assuming all things go as planned.

While I am healing, check out The College Survival Handbook for tips on how to take care of yourself when you're sick in college.

Wish me luck and healing and I'll wish you a great day of academic achievement as finals approach!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it (although do not expect a reply until I am all better).

Calling all TRiO alumni!

I have been fortunate enough to work for two federal TRiO programs to support first generation and low income college students succeed in college.

The federal TRiO programs include Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Talent Search, Student Support Services (SSS), Educational Opportunity Centers, Veterans Upward Bound, and Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program.

All of these programs do amazing work with first generation and low income college hopeful and current students. If you are an alumni of a TRiO program, please support the National TRIO Alumni Association (NTAA) by following them on Twitter or liking them on Facebook.

Photo credit: https://www.trioalumni.us/

The NTAA will strive to build an association that will assist in the fight to advance and defend equal educational opportunity in higher education--and you can be a part of that fight! 

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Advisor is on Spring Break!

This means no new posts between March 21st and March 28th...

Phtot credit: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/

While I'm away enjoying a relaxing, fun, and safe Spring Break, here are some nuggets of wisdom for you to make your own Spring Break awesome:

• SafeSpringBreak.org: Safety tips
• Center for Disease Control (CDC): Health and safety tips

Have a happy and safe Spring Break!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Inspire other first generation college students

Recently, a wise colleague of mine posted this as his Facebook status: "If your the first in your family to attend college, don't let it stop there...keep the dream going....inspire others." He is so right. Reach out and inspire someone else!

Photo credit: http://weallneedinspiration.com/

Think about all the people that helped you get to where you are now and the things they may have done. After saying thank you to those folks, think about how you can influence the next generation of first generation college students. Become a mentor or volunteer in your community.

Have some pride and do something to spread the fortune you have experienced to become the first one in your family attend college. You use experience for awesome.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Advisor is on vacation!

This means no new posts until December 22nd...

Photo credit: http://www.theatrefolk.com/

While I'm out of town, enjoy a few of my favorite posts. Oh, oldies but goodies:

• Learning from lap dancers...
• Procrastination is like...
• 5 students advisors hate
• First generation & low income pride!

Maybe my travels will lead me to some wisdom to share with you when I get back... maybe it won't... You'll have to come back on December 22nd to find out!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Advisor says "Thank you!"

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! As you say thank you to those that helped you get to where you are today, I would like to give a big, heartfelt thank you for reading Ask an Advisor.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Photo credit: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/

Have a happy Thanksgiving. And if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, have a lovely weekend. See you all on Monday.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Say "Thank you"

If you are a first generation or low income college student in the United States, chances are you are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. During this time when you sit around thinking of all the ways you are lucky and giving thanks for those things, don't forget about the people that helped you get to where you are today.

I encourage you to use this holiday to reflect on your journey to become a college student and thank the people who were influential in that process. Like, actually thank them. Yes, I mean tell them "Thank you!" for helping you make it to college.

Photo credit: https://wiki.smu.edu.sg/

Tell your friends and family, the high school guidance counselor or community member that believed in you, your mentor, or whoever it is. Just tell them.

Maybe you're an "actions speak louder than words" kinda person. So do something nice for the folks that helped you get to where you are. Offer to babysit for them, take them out for lunch, or bake them a cake. Show them how grateful you are for their support.

You can also spread the holiday spirit by giving back and volunteering for Thanksgiving-based projects, like food drives or soup kitchens.

So, say "Thank you" to someone important in your path to college and enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

No more weekend upddates

This is just a quick update to let you know that The Advisor will not be posting on weekends anymore. But why, you ask?

Well, I decided to stop it with the weekend posts because, let's face it, most first generation or low income college students would rather spend their precious weekend time doing something other than reading this blog... and I don't blame you. In fact, I intend to join you in dedicating my weekends to non-Advisor pursuits.

You can still expect awesome content Monday through Friday and you can still ask questions on weekends. I just won't answer them until the workweek rolls around. So now, enjoy the rest of your week!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Advisor's reading list

There is a lot of stuff out here in the blogosphere and it can be difficult to comb through. Most of it does not have first generation or low income college students in mind, but can still be useful.

That being said, I have found a few other blogs that I regularly visit and I'd like to share those with you! So here a few of the blogs that I read on a regular basis:

College
The College Survival Handbook
Finding Wood
College Thrive

Career
Ask a Manager
IttyBiz

Blogging
ProBlogger

Mental Health
The Emotion Machine

Take a look. I hope that you can get some good information, insight, or just a good laugh out of these blogs. I know I do...

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The role of advisors

Today, I read a blog post on Grades Blog about meeting your advisor with such gems like advisors "generally can’t accurately tell you how hard a class is" and "often unwittingly give you an inaccurate idea of how tough classes are."

As I read the post, I actually felt insulted as an advisor. And then it hit me why I was offended by it: This thinking assumes that advisors are there to tell you what to do and dole out definitive answers.

Newsflash, advisors are not there to give you the answers! Advisors are there as guides and resources to help you navigate college on your own with a little support as needed.

You know the phrase, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink," right? Well, college students are the horses (sorry,,,) and advisors are supposed to give students the information and resources they need to find the water and make the decision for themselves to drink the water or not.

Also, view our advice with a little healthy skepticism because although advisors are professional know-it-alls, that doesn't mean we actually know it all.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Quiz time

I'm curious to know how many folks out there were or are first generation and low income college students, both, or neither, so please take the quick poll in the sidebar to your right.

Only awesome people will take this poll, so thanks in advance you awesome people!

(And if you were expecting some study tips instead, check out 6 steps to get ready for a test.)

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

First generation & low income pride!

Yesterday was National Coming Out Day, a day all about pride and support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and its allies. The Advisor proudly came out in support of the wonderfully diverse LGBT folks out there.

Today, let's talk a little more about pride, first generation and low income college students pride! Some first generation and low income college students attempt to hide their background from their classmates because they might be ashamed of it or assume they might be treated differently if people knew their deep dark secret. But I tell you, my dear readers, be proud of who you are and where you came from.

When you're open about being a first generation or low income college student, you'd be surprised about the community you find. Some campuses are making an effort to get our stories out there, like California State University, Fresno's First Generation Story Project.

Say it loud and proud: I am proud to be the first generation in my family to attend college. I am proud to overcome the adversities of being from a low income family and I am not ashamed of my background.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Rise to the challenge

I know I suggested that you hold no expectations of college as a first generation or low income college student, but I still assume you expect college to be challenging. I'll cave and admit that, yes, you should expect college to be a personal, social, and intellectual challenge-and that's part of what makes college awesome.

Photo credit: www.myfeetarentugly

But, challenging and too difficult are two different things. Challenging means that it pushes you to places you never imagined. It gets you to think in new ways and try new things, and you learn from it. On the other hand, if something is too difficult to manage, you don't have the resources and support to overcome the obstacle. You don't really learn from taking on something that is too difficult for you.

As a first generation or low income college student, you will undoubtedly face your share of challenges, and may even come across something that is too difficult at the time. The key to turning a difficult task into a manageable challenge is having the resources and support to do so.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

5 students advisors hate

You know professors hate certain things from students... Well, we advisors have our pet peeves, too. Excuse me for a moment while I vent a little about it. These are the 5 students that drive advisors (like me) crazy:

The Know-It-All: This is the student that comes in believing he or she has all the answers already. He or she will be open to advising, but always value their own opinion over all others. Really, the Know-It-Alls just wants the advisor to affirm their know-it-all-ness. For the record, advisors are professional know-it-alls, so pay attention and learn some pointers.

The Overachiever/Clinger: This student can really deceive an advisor at first. The Overachiever/Clinger soaks in all the advice you give them and advisors love that. But then the Overachiever/Clinger does too much soaking in and seems to do everything you tell them to please you, not because it is good advice. The Overachiever/Clinger can be kind of scary.

The Wishy-Washy Student: This is the student that wants to do everything, but tries nothing. They are indecisive but super interested in way too many things. They have no focus, but don't try any suggestions from advisors to find focus. Until they try something, they are destined to do nothing.

The Hater: This is the annoying student who shuts down every suggestion or recommendation advisors try to offer. In other words, the Hater is not actually open to the advising process. Um, if you don't want to hear advice, why did you go see an advisor? Come back when you are willing to participate in the process.

The Baby: This is the student that wants you to do everything for him or her rather than doing it for him- or herself. In essence, the Babies takes no responsibility for their own actions. They act like their helpless, but hello, you are in college. Please just act like an adult!

If you are one of these annoying types that make advisors want to claw their own eyes out, please stop immediately. These types of behaviors tend to pop up in other places in your life too, and they will get you nowhere fast.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Have a great weekend!

The Advisor (yeah, I'm talking about myself in the third person...) is going on a road trip this weekend to watch a local band rock out in Hollywood! While it is good news for me to be going on said road trip, the bad news for you is no new posts 'til Sunday or Monday.

Feel free to ask a question over the weekend, and I'll get to it when I get back.

Hopefully you are using this weekend to do some studying, some fun stuff, some socializing, and some relaxing. Minus the studying, that is my plan... Maybe there will be a lesson from my (mis)adventures this weekend... Maybe not...

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.