FAQs
What is a First-Generation Student?
First-Generation (First-Gen) students are the first in their family to complete a Bachelor’s degree from a college or university.
Who is available to guide First-Generation Students?
There are more than 80 faculty and staff members who are First Gen and serve as First Gen Allies and there are also First Gen contacts in a number of University offices. All these people know what being a first-generation student was like.
What resources are available to all new students?
Each new student will be assigned a Peer Mentor, a returning student specially trained on Longwood resources and how to motivate and help new students.
New students will also be assigned to a coaching group with an Academic Coach, who will work with the peer mentor to organize events that expose them to campus and ensure they meet other students.
Students living in a residence hall will also have a Resident Assistant who will organize events and serve as a resource for their residents.
New Lancer Days presentations and programs are offered throughout the year to meet new people.
Mentors can be faculty, staff members, or other students. They provide guidance and support; they serve as role models; they help develop important skills, such as time management, communication, and networking. Mentors can come from any area of your student’s campus life. They are people they feel comfortable with, who care about their college success, and are interested in helping them navigate through Longwood.
The First-Generation Student Lounge is in Upchurch University Center, Suite 390. The lounge is a place to study, meet other students, get a snack, and charge your electronics.
What can parents do to help students in their transition to college?
Being in college can bring both positive and negative changes to new students.
- Show confidence, pride, and enthusiasm in their successes
- Acknowledge that acclimating to college can be overwhelming and academics can be hard
- Realize that your student may feel guilty about having such a great opportunity at the expense of sacrifices from other family members
- Encourage good health habits: eating well, getting enough sleep, and taking care of yourself physically and emotionally.
Expect some changes! They are transitioning into greater independence as they make decisions without you. If they are calling you for help, please aid in this transition by giving them your best advice while encouraging them to navigate without your direct input.
Offices and Services
How will the college classroom be different from the high school classroom?
Helping them redefine academic success is important.
Students have heard from their high school teachers that college professors will be demanding and expect more. This can be true, but the faculty are human and will be understanding in many situations.
Some students will struggle because faculty will not check their homework or review what they should learn from reading.
Other students may struggle with higher expectations regarding class participation. Still, others may struggle with new and more detailed information.
One of the biggest changes is that students will learn that no one’s work is perfect. Many who have always achieved 100% may see lower grades.
Encourage them to do their best but to realize that no one is perfect.
Ensure the students use their resources, including the Writing Center, Tutoring, and the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Center for mathematical skills.
These resources are not just for those failing a course but also for those who want to improve their grades.
Why does Longwood emphasize campus involvement?
While academics are the number one goal, out-of-classroom experiences are also extremely important in helping your student to make lifelong friends, improve time management, develop confidence, and enhance their leadership skills.
Longwood offers over 165 clubs and organizations. We encourage students to be intentional about getting involved and focus on quality, not quantity—and what activities might relate to their life and career interests.
Discover and Explore unique opportunities at Longwood
Encourage students to attend the Involvement and Volunteer Fair in the first couple weeks of classes to interact with students in various clubs and community partners looking for help with volunteer opportunities.
What do we need to remember about finances and financial aid resources?
The staff in the Financial Aid office are folks both you and your student should get to know!
Understanding your rights and responsibilities for the different types of financial assistance (grants, scholarships, loans and work on campus) can be key to enabling students to attend Longwood.
Procrastinating on filing the FAFSA form annually can result in a loss of resources. Semester bills are due and payable whether or not financial aid has been processed.
So, educate yourself regarding your financial responsibilities.
What type of employment is available for students?
Many students work on campus because these jobs can be arranged around their academic schedule. Learn more about On-campus student employment.
Jobs are available in many offices across campus. They are advertised on the Student Employment Canvas site throughout the year. Jobs can go fast. So, students are encouraged to check the site regularly and apply quickly.
Students may also choose to apply at restaurants and stores in Farmville. Those interested are encouraged to watch for advertisements in the community.
Students who have jobs tend to have better time-management skills and do better academically!
Is it true that freshmen must work in the Dorrill Dining Hall?
Freshmen are not required to work in the Dining Hall. However, many offices hire students during the spring semester. This limits the number of jobs available when freshmen arrive.
Due to the large number of opportunities available in the dining facilities, there are usually positions available. The dining hall supervisors work with the students to help them find work that they will enjoy.
Longwood’s Center for Career Success empowers students throughout their career journeys by offering lifelong career coaching services, supporting career exploration through work-based experiences, connecting students with top employers, and facilitating meaningful connections with successful Longwood alumni.
This fall, the center has a campus-wide career closet that provides students access to professional attire at no additional cost.
What should families know as their students adapt to college?
Emphasize that everyone is new. Students will often think that those around them have their act together and are adapting much quicker than they are. Everyone is struggling. And everyone is trying to hide that they are nervous and anxious.
Emphasize that they need to ask others for help as they learn. Students are not as computer savvy as we think they are. Many students have never used the programs Microsoft Word and Excel.
Let them know you can help. Ask them what they need and what you can do to help.
Students must check their Longwood email accounts daily to ensure they get information from their faculty and the University.
Offices do not accept text messages. Students need to call; if no one answers, leave a message.
Stay on campus over the weekends. Students can meet people and get to know the campus and community better.
Use faculty office hours. Get to know the faculty and develop mentoring and networking relationships.
Scholarships are available. Never let the cost of a study abroad or Brock Experience deter a student from pursuing one. There are numerous scholarships available.
What are some other resources that may be helpful?
Online Guide for First-Generation College Students
To boldly go where their parents did not go before
Information for Families of First Gen Students 6.24 (Spanish language version) (pdf)