An article from 2013, “Better Colleges Failing to Lure Talented Poor,” keeps popping up on my Facebook feed, and it dives deep into why prestigious institutions like Harvard and Amherst aren’t pulling in low-income students who boast impressive test scores and grades. The kicker? These students often don’t even apply, despite the availability of grants and scholarships to help with the hefty price tags of private colleges.
This topic resonates with me personally as I was a low-income, first-generation college student, and I’ve spent much of my career helping others in similar situations. But I’m not coming at this as an expert; I’m just a dad. Even though I have an advanced degree and work at a university, my children are being raised in a lower-middle-class household, and I frequently wonder if my background of attending state schools will influence their futures.
Key Issues Observed
Two key issues stood out in the article that I’ve also observed in my own life and work.
First off, many students don’t recognize the differences between colleges. I started college at 21, barely graduated high school, and didn’t even know how to type. My girlfriend—now my wife—had to type out my papers the first semester. I attended an open-enrollment state college and thought all colleges were essentially the same. My family was thrilled I was going to college, and I felt proud of my achievements, regardless of the institution.
Later, I worked with a TRIO Student Support Services Program at a large state university, helping low-income and first-generation students. A significant issue was students leaving to attend community colleges closer to home, often at the urging of parents who didn’t grasp the distinction between a university and a two-year college. These students were high achievers, with test scores rivaling our top engineering candidates, yet they opted for the familiar, sometimes to their detriment.
Now, I want to clarify that community colleges are incredible and serve a vital role. However, if a child has the potential for more, I believe it’s our responsibility as parents to encourage them to reach higher. Yet, that becomes challenging when the university landscape appears daunting and the thought of a child moving far away feels overwhelming. If state universities struggle to retain these students, I worry elite colleges face similar challenges.
The second issue is the question of fitting in. I completed my undergrad with a solid GPA, which could have opened doors at elite institutions, yet I hesitated to apply because I feared standing out in a crowd. I ultimately chose a state university in Minnesota for my graduate work. I’m not even sure if I would have been accepted into those prestigious schools, but my fear held me back.
In my career, I’ve seen many low-income, first-generation students with remarkable qualifications drop out because they felt out of place at traditional universities or never applied to elite schools due to fears of not fitting in.
A Father’s Reflection
As a father of three, I often reflect on my journey and those of the students I’ve worked with. My oldest is just 10 and performing better in school than I did at his age. But when I think about his future college applications, I feel a wave of anxiety. I want him to apply somewhere comfortable, likely the state university where I work. The thought of him applying to Harvard or Yale feels just as intimidating to me as it did back then.
The struggle to break the cycle of low-income, first-generation experiences is real. I want my children to have more opportunities than I did—to be better parents, earn more, and receive a top-notch education. However, when it comes to elite colleges, I find myself just as nervous for them as my own parents were for me when I moved across the country for grad school.
This is a common concern for parents, but it’s particularly daunting for first-generation college students who lack a roadmap and often feel immense pressure. The real question is whether we can encourage our children to take that leap when the time comes.
In short, while elite colleges offer incredible opportunities, the barriers of perception and comfort can often deter qualified low-income students from applying.
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Summary
Elite colleges struggle to attract qualified low-income students due to misconceptions about college differences and fears of not fitting in. Many students don’t apply, despite their academic achievements, often opting for more familiar community colleges. As a first-generation college graduate and father, the author reflects on these challenges and the anxiety surrounding his own children’s future educational choices.