{"id":1036,"date":"2022-08-14T23:42:47","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T04:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/?page_id=1036"},"modified":"2026-02-17T13:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T19:38:04","slug":"low-income-and-first-gen","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/identity-resources\/low-income-and-first-gen\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Income + First Generation Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-modular-content-collection><p><!-- begin-migrated-from-panel-builder --><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"is-style-default site-section site-panel__accordion panel panel-accordion site-section__bg--normal\"\n\t\t\tdata-depth=\"\"\n\t\t\tdata-js-panel=\"accordion\"\n\t\t>\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"is-style-default site-section__inner l-wrapper \">\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t<div class=\"is-style-default site-grid site-grid__wrapper\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"is-style-default site-grid__col\">\n\t\t\t\n<figure class=\"is-style-default c-caption\">\n\n\t\n\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"is-style-default t-content\" data-name=\"content\" data-index=\"0\" data-autop=\"true\" data-livetext>\n\t\t\t<p>Low Income and First Generation students may experience unique opportunities and challenges woven into study abroad\/away.\u00a0 Indeed, many students perceive familial, financial, and\/or personal barriers to study abroad\/away.\u00a0 Much like traversing college as a First Generation student, navigating the study abroad\/away process can, at times, feel overwhelming. The Smith Center strongly encourages students to meet with the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/make-an-appointment\/\">Smith Center<\/a>\u00a0to discuss your options for studying abroad.<\/p>\n<p>St. Olaf strives to remove as many financial barriers to studying abroad\/away as possible.\u00a0 All students can expect any financial aid, scholarships, and\/or grants (except work-study) they received as a St. Olaf student to \u201cfollow them\u201d while studying abroad\/away.\u00a0 This allows students to use the aid and scholarships they currently receive toward their study abroad\/away experience(s).\u00a0 Additionally, St. Olaf offers many <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/welcome-to-saa\/financing-your-experience\/\">scholarship opportunities<\/a>, including one scholarship for which students are automatically considered during the application process.\u00a0 The Smith Center is dedicated to assisting students navigate the application and scholarship processes to ensure all funding options are considered during the application and pre-departure phases.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"is-style-default site-grid__col\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"is-style-default accordion site-panel__accordion-items\" data-depth=\"0\" data-name=\"accordions\" data-livetext role=\"tablist\" aria-multiselectable=\"true\" data-js=\"accordion\">\n            <article  class=\"is-style-default accordion__row site-panel__accordion-item \" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"false\" id=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-0\" aria-controls=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-0\">\n        \t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-style-default accordion__header site-panel__accordion-title clearfix\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"title\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n        \t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <span class=\"is-style-default accordion__header-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAcademic Goals\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n                <\/button>\n                <div\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"is-style-default accordion__content site-panel__accordion-content context-content t-content \"\t\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-0\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-autop=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"accordion_content\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n                >\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <div class=\"is-style-default accordion__content-inner context-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>How long do you want to be abroad\/away?\u00a0 How will your study abroad\/away experience fit into your four-year plan?<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n            <article  class=\"is-style-default accordion__row site-panel__accordion-item \" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"false\" id=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-1\" aria-controls=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-1\">\n        \t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-style-default accordion__header site-panel__accordion-title clearfix\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"title\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n        \t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <span class=\"is-style-default accordion__header-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCost\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n                <\/button>\n                <div\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"is-style-default accordion__content site-panel__accordion-content context-content t-content \"\t\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-autop=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"accordion_content\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n                >\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <div class=\"is-style-default accordion__content-inner context-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Each country has its own \u201ccost of living\u201d.\u00a0 Some countries may be more or less expensive than others in terms of housing, food, activities, etc.\u00a0 Some programs offered by St. Olaf are less expensive than the cost of staying on campus for the semester or year.<\/p>\n<p>Questions to consider asking yourself or others:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How will I finance my time abroad?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n            <article  class=\"is-style-default accordion__row site-panel__accordion-item \" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"false\" id=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-2\" aria-controls=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-2\">\n        \t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-style-default accordion__header site-panel__accordion-title clearfix\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"2\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"title\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n        \t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <span class=\"is-style-default accordion__header-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFinancial Aid\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n                <\/button>\n                <div\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"is-style-default accordion__content site-panel__accordion-content context-content t-content \"\t\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"2\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-autop=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"accordion_content\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n                >\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <div class=\"is-style-default accordion__content-inner context-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; font-family: Calluna, 'Big Caslon', Cambria, serif;\">\n<li>Your financial aid package (including scholarships and grants \u2013 with the possible exception of work study) will be applied to your study abroad\/away program.\u00a0 There are many\u00a0scholarship opportunities\u00a0available through St. Olaf and other organizations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n            <article  class=\"is-style-default accordion__row site-panel__accordion-item \" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"false\" id=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-3\" aria-controls=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-3\">\n        \t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-style-default accordion__header site-panel__accordion-title clearfix\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"3\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"title\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n        \t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <span class=\"is-style-default accordion__header-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSupport\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n                <\/button>\n                <div\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-3\"\n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"is-style-default accordion__content site-panel__accordion-content context-content t-content \"\t\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-3\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"3\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-autop=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"accordion_content\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n                >\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <div class=\"is-style-default accordion__content-inner context-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sometimes families and support people do not understand the reasons students want to travel or study abroad\/away. These same individuals are often concerned with students\u2019 safety, the cost of studying abroad\/away, etc., which can make the experience difficult to pursue for many reasons.\u00a0 The Smith Center can assist students in navigating these conversations and\/or talking with concerned family\/support people.\u00a0 Find support!\u00a0 Traveling or studying abroad\/away is an exciting and sometimes challenging time, especially if you are the first in your family to do it.\u00a0 Be sure to find people on and off campus who support your decision.\u00a0 Talk with other students about their experience abroad\/away.<\/p>\n<p>Questions to consider asking yourself or others:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Since I am the first in my family to study abroad, who will help me plan my study abroad experience?<\/li>\n<li>How will I talk about the possibility of studying abroad with my family? How can I explain the benefits of studying abroad to them?<\/li>\n<li>What tips, insights and advice do your family\/friends\/others have for you?<\/li>\n<li>How will the distance (location and time) from my family impact my education abroad experience?<\/li>\n<li>Would I feel more comfortable being somewhere close or somewhere farther away?<\/li>\n<li>How about the local culture? Would I be comfortable in a culture completely different from what I am used to for an extended period of time?<\/li>\n<li>Think about the length: Will I be comfortable being away for a whole semester or academic year? Would a short-term program be a better fit?<\/li>\n<li>How will you stay in contact with family and friends while abroad\/away?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n            <article  class=\"is-style-default accordion__row site-panel__accordion-item \" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"false\" id=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-4\" aria-controls=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-4\">\n        \t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-style-default accordion__header site-panel__accordion-title clearfix\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"4\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"title\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n        \t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <span class=\"is-style-default accordion__header-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOpportunities\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n                <\/button>\n                <div\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-header-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"is-style-default accordion__content site-panel__accordion-content context-content t-content \"\t\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-69dbe81288331-content-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"4\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-autop=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-name=\"accordion_content\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-livetext\n                >\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <div class=\"is-style-default accordion__content-inner context-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do your research!\u00a0 The more you know about your academic program and the host community, the more you can prepare and share with your support networks.\u00a0 See studying abroad\/away as an opportunity to expand your understanding of the world, enhance your resume and employment application materials, and gain new experiences that will inform your future academic coursework and career.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"site-section site-panel__wysiwyg panel panel-wysiwyg site-section__bg--white\"\n\t\t\tdata-depth=\"\"\n\t\t\tdata-js-panel=\"wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"site-section__inner l-wrapper site-section__bg--white\">\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"site-section__header\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"site-section__title h3\" id=\"helpful-links\" data-name=\"title\" data-livetext data-depth=\"0\" data-index=\"0\">Helpful Links<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t<div class=\"site-section__content \">\n\t\t<div class=\"site-grid site-grid__wrapper site-grid__wrapper-stagger\"\n\t\t\t data-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t data-name=\"columns\"\n\t\t\t data-livetext>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-grid__col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-panel__wysiwyg-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"t-content c-tile\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t data-depth=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t data-index=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t data-autop=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t data-name=\"column_content\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Resources for Low Income Students<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diversityabroad.com\/articles\/17-smart-and-realistic-tips-your-study-abroad-budget\">Diversity Abroad \u2013 17 Smart and Realistic Tips for Your Way Study Abroad Budget<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.diversityabroad.com\/articles\/pros-and-cons-getting-gig-economy-while-studying-abroad\">Diversity Abroad \u2013 The Pros and Cons of Getting into the Gig Economy While Studying Abroad<\/a><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Resources for First Generation Students<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diversityabroad.com\/articles\/taking-advantage-resources-first-generation-college-student\">Diversity Abroad \u2013 Taking Advantage of Resources as a First Generation College Student<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/isatoday.wordpress.com\/2018\/04\/26\/diversity-abroad-the-first-in-my-family-to-study-abroad-perspectives-from-three-first-generation-college-students\/\">ISA Today \u2013 Diversity Abroad: The First in my Family to Study Abroad \u2013 Perspectives from Three First-Generation College Students<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/knowwithoutborders.org\/ask-a-first-generation-student-diversity-and-study-abroad\/\">Knowledge Without Borders \u2013 Ask a First-Generation Student: Diversity and Study Abroad<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ifsa-butler.org\/student-story\/first-generation-studying-abroad\/\">IFSA \u2013 How To Overcome First Generation Hurdles While Studying Abroad<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .site-grid__col -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- .site-grid, .site-grid__wrapper -->\n\t<\/div> <!-- site-section__content -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p><!-- end-migrated-from-panel-builder --><\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3511,"featured_media":0,"parent":231,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1036","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3511"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1036"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9082,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1036\/revisions\/9082"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/smithcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}