Seize Your Superpower
First-generation students embark on the college journey with unique access to endless possibilities. During this process, it is very normal to encounter new challenges; whether you miss home, yearn to feel “a sense of belonging,” or doubt your abilities, you are not alone. Resources are available to help you achieve your goals.
We believe in the power of first-generation students to transform the world of work. Use this page to launch your career into uncharted territory and move forward with support from Career Services.
Key Campus Resources @ UCSB
Discover Options: First-Generation Students
For complete information on assessing yourself, choosing majors, and exploring careers, review our starter tips to Discover Options in all careers as well as the specialized tips on this page.
Becoming Acquainted With UCSB
Your acceptance into UCSB is marked by the extraordinary achievement of attending one of the most prestigious universities in the nation. As a first-generation student, you are setting the bar by being the first in your family to trail blaze the pursuit of a college degree. This is an exciting time for you to consider an array of possibilities, however, we understand that choosing a major or career path that best fits you can also be an overwhelming process.
At the beginning of your journey at UCSB, you may feel the need to align all of your academic pursuits and experiences toward a specific career path. With limited knowledge of the vast career options available, first-generation students may feel various external pressures, whether they are from family, friends, or oneself, to commit to a path before researching other career possibilities, or before truly understanding the impacts of each option.
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If you are unsure about your major and career direction, check out our Self-Assessment page to broaden your perspective and get a better understanding of who you are. For first and second-year students, FOCUS® 2 can be beneficial in providing recommendations for UCSB majors and careers to pursue.
Considering Major and Career Options
As a first-generation student, the best thing that you can do is explore early and often. UCSB offers a variety of academic options, ranging from Discovery Seminars to General Education classes, which help you gain knowledge and insights about your interests. Through your academic coursework, consider the types of subject material you enjoy, and contemplate whether you can see yourself studying a discipline through your upper division coursework. Understand and be aware that there is a tendency for families of first-generation students to overemphasize the value of STEM majors due to a perceived sense of prestige and guaranteed financial stability.
If you plan to pursue a STEM major, keep in mind that it is important to determine this early on in your UCSB studies. Many courses are sequential and could potentially delay your graduation date.
Generally, we recommend that you choose a major that you are not only good at but also genuinely interested in; the more engaged you are in the subject matter, the more eager you will be to learn and succeed academically.
At UCSB, you are connected to resources to help you explore your career options and understand how this fits in with who you are. You are not alone in this process. Whether you started college with every idea of what you want to be, or you discovered that you now want to be something new, Career Services is here to support you in your success.
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If you are interested in pursuing a STEM major, one unique program which you should take advantage of is called BioMentors. This is specifically geared toward helping first-generation students achieve academic success during their first two years of completing core preparatory work.
