Identity Topics / First Generation Students

First Generation Students


About one in five students who come to the University of Kentucky are first generation (1G) students. Being a 1G student can be difficult, especially when you’re planning to participate on an education abroad program. Use this guide to start planning early and get yourself on the right track for success!

Start Planning Early

It’s never too early to start planning your education abroad experience. Choosing a program, applying for scholarships, getting a passport or visa, and all the other steps of going abroad can take a while. The earlier you get started, the more time you have to sort everything out and reduce stress in the long run.

Search Online

While information on the internet should be taken with a grain of salt, student blogs can be a really helpful resource. The I’m First! blog is a good general resource for 1G students, and there are a few blog posts specifically about planning to go abroad, like this one. Look for other testimonials from 1G students if you think advice from peers would be helpful for you.

Talk to Your Family

no...seriously

Parents and family can be the greatest help and hindrance for 1G students who want to go abroad. While a lot of parents want to see their student thrive and expand their horizons, some may not want their baby going far from home, especially not abroad.

You are now an adult and you can make your own choices about your program, but your family will always be an important source of support. It’s important to include them in your education abroad journey, especially if they’re going to help you fund your experience. Besides, parents love to be included!

Some tips for gaining their support:

  • 1. Talk to your family early! Let them know that you're thinking about going abroad. Tell them your plan and how it will benefit you.
  • 2. Talk about how you'll fund your program and maybe even mention that a program abroad could potentially be cheaper than a semester here at UK.

Take Advantage of Your Resources

Don’t be afraid to reach out to an advisor. The UK Education Abroad advisors are there to help you with the education abroad process, and you can always set up an appointment if you need their help with the program application. You can set an appointment through this link by finding your college’s advisor and clicking the “make an appointment” link below their name.

Also be sure to drop by your academic advisor in your college. They can help you narrow down what classes would be best to take abroad based on your own academic progress. We want you to stay on track to graduate, and going abroad shouldn't slow that down!

It may also be a good idea to reach out to the First Generation Initiatives office on campus. They’re very supportive of all 1G students and may be able to give you more specific guidance on how to prepare for an education abroad program as a first generation student. You can always drop by their office at 109 Miller Hall or contact them for more information.