163. What Every First-Gen Parent Needs to Know About College Admissions Right Now

In this solo episode, I'm getting real about what it actually takes to help your child get into college in today's landscape, because spoiler: it's not the same process we went through. As a first-gen parent myself with 14 years of combined college admissions and counseling experience, I'm breaking down what's changed, what still matters, and how you can start building a real strategy this summer, whether your kid is a rising junior or senior.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode163

What You'll Hear:

• What "first-generation" actually means and why the definition matters more than you think
• How the college admissions landscape has dramatically shifted post-pandemic
• Why checking the boxes on a college application isn't enough anymore
• The real difference between knowing about college and knowing the current college process

Resources Mentioned:

• Follow Avila College Consulting on Instagram: @avilacollegeconsulting
• Book your FREE 20-minute consultation with me!

Transcript

Jessica 0:00

I think that as first-generation college graduates, and college professionals, and now first-gen parents, we have tried to do everything right to get to this point. And even though we have had that experience about getting into college, knowing how to get to college in this current landscape is so different. Hola, hola. Welcome to the Viva La Mami podcast. I'm your host, Jessica Cuevas. on last week's episode, I shared that for the next three weeks, I will be doing solo episodes, specifically as it relates to the college process. Because right now, we are on summer break, And if you are a parent who has a rising junior or a rising senior in high school, you're most likely thinking about, "Oh, my gosh, I need to start thinking about college, and thinking about how to best prepare my child to get to college." And so if you are a mama who has a rising junior or senior, or if you know anyone that is about to go into this phase of the college process, Well, I hope you can tune in, because I have a lot to share. and so this episode will be specifically for the first gen parent that is trying to help their child, their student, in getting to college. I'm sure that you're probably overwhelmed about where to start, how to get there. But I first wanna kinda set the foundation for you just to give you more so of a broader scope about the current trends and things that are happening right now within higher education, so that way you can be best informed. and so if you are a first-generation parent Well, first let's define what first-generation parent really means, okay? If you went to college and you were the first one in your family to get that college degree, then you are a first-gen student. It means that neither your parent has earned a bachelor's degree. so for example, for me, my parents did not get a college degree. what that essentially means is that I am first-generation. In fact, my sisters are first-generation. A lot of families get confused that just because if let's say you have one sibling that went to college like five years ago, then you go through the college process, it would be assumed that you're not first-generation because your sibling kind of paved the way for you. Well, guess what? No. It means that neither parent has earned a bachelor's degree. Let's say if one parent did and one parent did not, technically you wouldn't be considered first-generation. but that definition can vary depending on the school and institution that you end up going to or your child ends up going to. But in general, it essentially means that both of your parents did not earn a bachelor's degree. Now, w- what about an associate's? Well, even though they did earn an associate's, I don't know who created this rule or whatever, but it's essentially is if, if they didn't get a bachelor's degree, meaning a BA, a BS, a BEd or whatever, any kind of bachelor's, that essentially means that you would be considered first-generation. now when you are a parent, well, what does that look like? That essentially means that you are going through the college process with your child, or you have navigated this whole system, like the K12, uh, US education system, and you have navigated it, great. You decided to take your kid to a, a good school, or, you know, you put them into all of these clubs and organizations so that they can stand out on their college applications because that is what we're told, right? We're told that, okay, my child needs to enroll into all of these honors classes, all of these AP classes, and that they need to be involved, they need to create leadership skills, and therefore, they can get more competitive. But depending on where you end up putting your child into high school, that can all vary. And one thing that a lot of first-gen parents are not aware of is, well, when should I prepare my child so that they can get into a good school, a good college or university? And I'm only speaking in terms of the traditional four-year route, right? I am honestly an advocate of students who decide to take a gap year, or students who decide to go into the trades, or students who want to go to community college first and then transfer out, or they just wanna get an associate's degree. I am a huge advocate of that. I'm also an advocate of, like, students deciding not to go to college, and that is completely fine. But I think that a lot of first-gen parents are kind of like- thinking traditional four-year school because they had already earned that four-year bachelor's degree. and perhaps they had that four-year college experience Uh, but, you know, I think that there is a missing gap in terms of how first-gen parents can essentially navigate this process. And I would be honest with you, coming from 14 years of college admissions and college counseling experience combined, like, there is a gap that I see oftentimes with, like, students who come from generations and generations and generations of, like, you know, people having a college degree versus, like, the first or the second generation getting into college. And, and a lot of times this population in particular, perhaps they know that they want to get to college. They know that they want to be a competitive applicant. They have checked all the boxes. They tried their best in high school, and therefore, they feel like they are a good candidate to get into college. But perhaps they don't know the nuances, right? The insider information about how to get to college. And it's not like there is a specific formula. No, I don't want... You know, I... No. in order for you to get to college, it is just a matter of, um, luck. It's a matter of making sure that you turn in everything that you're supposed to. And even if you do, sometimes you won't get in. But there are strategies in terms of how you can get in, and especially to the schools that are most realistic based on the student's academic profile, okay? So I do wanna be honest with you that within the last five years even, uh, the, the landscape of higher education has completely changed, okay? And it is changing. Right now, we are living in a post-pandemic world. So when I stopped working in college admissions, like full-time, uh, it was during the pandemic, and a lot of colleges were very lenient. They were very like, "We're not gonna accept your test scores. It is test-optional. Like, we're gonna be cool with you. We understand that right now in the pandemic, everyone is going through very unique circumstances and unique experiences where perhaps taking a test is going to make an impact." And so they were like, "You know what? We're just gonna be test-optional or test-free or whatever." And so that happened, like six years ago, five, six years ago. But now some colleges, and, uh, honestly, there's a growing number of colleges and universities that are now going back to the traditional, like test score, like requirement that you need to turn in your ACT or SAT scores. And so that in itself is changing, but also the whole, like scope of higher ed is, has changed completely, and I would say it has gotten a lot more competitive in terms of earning admission to the university. One example is like The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, okay? Like when I was looking into schools, this was back in 2007, right? So it's almost like 20 years ago, which is wild. But when I was looking at colleges and universities, I knew that U of I was a little competitive, but I probably would've gotten in with my type of academic profile. However, with a student's academic profile like mine 20 years now, like 20... moving forward, like 20 years into the future, That student would not get in. Like, with my type of test score, which was like a 19, I believe, and like a 3.4 GPA, pretty, like, I would say it's pretty average. I wouldn't have gotten in, in, at U of I if I would apply right now, okay? But I would've most likely have gotten accepted 20 years back. So it just gives you context about the, type of competitiveness that colleges and universities are right now, and it's all contextual. It's all based on how much you have prepared, not just academically, but for the given major that you or that your student is interested in. And that is a gap that I see oftentimes, is that a lot of students say, "Well, I wanna be a doctor." Okay, cool. You wanna be a doctor Sh- show me proof. And this doesn't mean that you need to take, like, clinical hours. It doesn't mean that you have to take, like, AP Bio, uh, you know, very super advanced, like, biology, by, like, sophomore year. No. It just means that how are you intentional in terms of your goals, and how are you setting kinda like that foundation in order to get to the program that you want? And in this case, biology, right? Let's say you wanna become, a doctor. But obviously, first you first have to get your four-year degree, and in order to, for you to get your four-year degree, you need to then go into medical school, right? But for your four-year degree, let's say you wanna major in biology, because that is a common major to get into, um, medical school. For biology, you obviously need to take biology classes, but it's not just the sciences, it's also the math. What type of level of math have you taken to show proficiency in the, in the, in the STEM field, right? And, and especially as you're preparing for biology. And not just academically speaking, but also through activities. What kinds of extracurricular activities have you done that prove that you have a genuine interest in biology? Have you done any research or just, like, projects that relates to your understanding of, you know, I don't know, like, the sciences and, you know, setting that kind of foundation in terms of healthcare? Um, have, are y- have you gotten any credentials? Like, uh, I know a lot of students nowadays are getting, like, a registered nursing degree or they, get a CNA license as well, a certified nurse's assistant. Or they do some sort of internship where they essentially get a couple hours in and, and they show that they have done some kind of, like, practicum of what it's like working in a hospital setting. And so those things can also benefit the student in, in getting into the given program. nowadays it's not just about saying, "Well, I wanna major in biology to become a doctor." No. It's like you need to show proof. You need to show evidence in terms of how you're preparing. I would say that right now it's a matter of understanding the type of programs that you are interested or that your child is interested, and making sure that they're not just, like, checking off a box on the application indicating a whatever random major. Like, no, they need to show that proof and evidence, and essentially history about, you know, their true interests. Because otherwise it's gonna get competitive. There are many students nowadays that even take, like, paid internships. There are students that actually do research. There are students that go onto, like, summer camps, and they are very specific to the major that they wanna pursue. So if your student is academically speaking, like a great student, they have an amazing academic profile, good test scores, good GPA, and they are being compared to a student that is similar to them, but that other student has more experience, then guess what? they're probably going to offer the spot for the other student. you need to help your child understand that it's not just about applying to college, it's about being intentional and making sure that they are applying to the major that they know that they are interested in, but not just interested in, but that they have had this sort of, background and intentionality behind it that sh- helps the colleges and universities know that they are genuinely interested in that specific major And so this is, like, one tiny example that I wanted to share with you because I think that as first-generation college graduates, and college professionals, and now first-gen parents, we have tried to do everything right to get to this point. And even though we have had that experience about getting into college, knowing how to get to college in this current landscape is so different. And honestly, like, if it wasn't for me getting into college admissions, like, 14 years ago, and now working as a college consultant and working at the high school setting as a college counselor, like, I know the ins and outs of, like what is going on right now in terms of getting into the college of your dreams really. And it's not just about getting into the college of your dreams, but also considering other colleges and universities that you perhaps never thought of, because there's over 4,000 colleges and universities across the United States. And so it's important to, again, build that strategy and understanding, you know, all of the vast options that are available for your student. But if you only know just a couple of schools, or you are only familiar with one aspect of the college admissions process, and not the whole picture, then that can either, A, limit your student, or B, it can overwhelm your student because they feel like they don't have that many options. And so I want to tell you that I am here to offer that opportunity, right? I am building my new college consulting business and it's called Avila College Consulting, and I help first-generation families to get to college and to make it in a way that is feasible, accessible, affordable, because we know that that is big, and, and that way it doesn't overwhelm not just the student, but also the families as well. I would say that there is a difference about knowing about college, right, and now knowing the current college process. And, that is something that I highlight in my business to make sure that families really are understanding the ins and outs of how to get to college, especially when it comes to the current stakes of higher education. And so right now, this summer is a perfect time for m- me to start helping you create that plan, whether if you are a rising junior, I can help your student essentially prepare for their senior year and understanding what type of classes, what types of, you know, those sort of, sort of foundational, ex- experiences they need in order to be a competitive applicant. I can definitely help your student with that. But also, if you are a rising senior, I can help you build that strategy. So what I do in my college consulting business is that I help seniors create, um, a li- a list of schools that they are planning to apply, and it's not just, like, random schools, right? It's like, eh, there's an actual strategy built within that to make sure that you are applying to the right type of schools. And we talk about fit, we talk about understanding, okay, well, what are my chances of getting in, but also, what are my chances of getting financial aid? What are my chances of really loving this school? And so I help rising seniors, with that list. And then as you move along to the college process in the fall, I also will be helping your senior in terms of the application process, because that is such a big thing. And then, once decisions are out, we can talk about what are the best options based upon those that are available, where then we can talk about financial aid and, you know, we kinda move along the process all the way until, like, May 1st. But because you may be a first-gen parent, I wanna make sure that I also help educate you and your child about what are the next steps after May 1st, after you decide on going to college. And so I do offer additional support during the summer so that that way your child can not just, like, enroll, but making sure that they're registered for classes, that they are essentially equipped to start their freshman year at college. So I know that right now it seems kinda like impossible to think about this time next year, but I promise you it goes by so fast. and that's what I do with Avila College Consulting. I will be helping you throughout the whole year, especially the seniors that, are hoping to get into college, and that want to get into the best school possible. this is exactly why I am building this business. I feel like I have enough skills, a lot in my toolkit, And I feel like I can provide you with enough information needed so that you can make an informed decision, and your student as well. So for this year only, starting this summer, and even early fall, I am offering discounted prices for a beta group of 10 students. I only wanna work with 10 students this year, so that way I can give you that one-on-one attention. And that way, you and I can, you know, learn together, and so that's why I'm offering super discounted prices, than your typical, college consultant. Know that there are independent educational consultants or college counseling consultants where they charge a ton of money, you know? But for me, just because I know that we are first generation, we are the first to do everything, and we're probably the first to kinda start building our finances together and everything, like, I wanna make sure that I am equitable enough for you to afford this type of service. But know that this is going to be something that, you don't have to worry about. I will be taking care of your student, and, I have a lot of experience and, and a lot of clientele that essentially I helped for free in getting to college and getting financial aid. And so I felt like now it is the time for me to share these skills and, the passion that I have about f- helping families and students. And so now I wanna make this into fruition. And so I will be so honored to have the first group of this beta program, so that way I can start building this business from the ground up. like I said, I have 10 spots available. I wanna work with rising juniors and seniors. It doesn't matter. It can be across the United States, or if you're from the Chicagoland area, you know, I can work with you as well, just because the bulk of my career was in Chicago, but it's it doesn't matter. I still work with students from all around the US, and of course, in Mexico as well. So if you happen to be listening this in Mexico, I will also be helping students who are in Mexico who are thinking about getting a US education, uh, because I'm also familiar with the international admission side of things. So Feel free to DM me. I have just created my Instagram account, which is Avila College Consulting. I will add that link in the show notes, but you can always send me an email, which is podcast@vivalamami.com, and that way you can learn more. I am currently offering a free 20-minute consultation for anyone that is interested to learn a little bit more about what I have to offer, but also how we can be a good fit together so that way we can work together throughout the year. This was a super short episode just because I am in the middle of launching my college consulting business, and I wanted to share a little bit more about my expertise. But if you have any questions or if you have anything to share, you can share it in the comments in the, on YouTube, or you can send me a DM. And like I said, I will be linking my new Instagram account, And yeah, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. All right, amiga, well, thank you so much for listening. Hasta la próxima, y nos vemos in the next episode.