“Doing My Own Thing”: How first-generation college students communicate their college experience with their parents

The purpose of this qualitative study was to achieve an in-depth understanding of how first-generation college students communicate their college experience with their parents. This phenomenological study recruited participants through convenience sampling from a private university located in Northern California. Six participants were each interviewed for 30-minutes in a neutral setting and a semi-structured interview guide was used to ask open-ended questions about their experience. The results found that students prioritize what they want to discuss with their parents, and the more interest parents express, the more likely the students are to provide detailed information about their experience. However, when seeking advice for navigating college, the students rely on current or past professors and academic success advisors for support.