What Makes College Meaningful for First-Generation Students? A Quantitative Content Analysis of First-Generation and Continuing-Generation Student Writings on Why College Is Purposeful and Important

The current research explores differences in why first-generation and continuing-generation students find college meaningful/purposeful. We used an advanced language analysis method to identify thematic elements of 389 college-meaning narratives. We identified five thematic categories and found differences in thematic focus. First-generation students focused more on finding meaning in succeeding for families/communities. Continuing-generation students focused more on finding meaning in a fulfilling career. These findings lay the foundation for programs/strategies to promote first-generation student success. Programs should frame college as an opportunity for first-generation students to make their families proud and give back to their community, enhancing their purpose and motivation.