Last week, school counselors organized a college visit for a group of first-generation juniors, giving students the opportunity to explore life after high school through firsthand experience. The group visited Northern Illinois University and Aurora University, where they toured each campus and learned more about academic programs, student life, and available resources.
During the visits, students participated in presentations led by college admissions representatives, who shared information about the application process, financial aid opportunities, and support systems designed to help first-generation college students succeed. The trip provided valuable insight into the college experience and encouraged students to begin thinking about their future educational goals.
Counselors said the experience aimed to help students feel more confident and prepared as they begin planning for college, while also exposing them to a variety of campus environments and opportunities. The trip also emphasized the importance of early planning, self-advocacy, and exploring different pathways to higher education success.
“I think the field trip was fun and it had a lot of campus culture representation, but that being said, I feel like we didn’t really get to enjoy the quality of the schools and what they had to offer to their fullest potential because the focus was primarily on how much the schools cost,” said one of the students on the trip.
“Going on the first-generation college tour and visiting both campuses was really cool. Each campus felt different, and hearing from other first-generation students made it feel more real for me. It made me more excited and less nervous about going to college one day,” added Natalia Waldzinski, a junior.
“The first-generation college trip was cool. I definitely learned a few things from both campuses. I liked seeing the contrast between both schools and what they offered, which helped me learn what I like and dislike about a school such as size and cost. The campus tour guides were also very helpful as they spoke from a student perspective so I could understand what their true thoughts were from the school and not just from college representatives,” said Adrian Nevarez-Valles, a junior.
“I liked the first-generation college field trip because it made college feel more real and not as intimidating. The only thing I didn’t really like was that we didn’t have enough time to look around and ask more questions. Overall, I learned a lot about what college is like and it made me feel more confident about in the future,” added Aisha Bawani, a junior.First