First-Generation College Student Scholarship

The Kryder Law Group, LLC invites first-generation college students to apply for the law firm’s first-annual First-Generation College Student Scholarship. The winner of this $1,000 scholarship will be a student who demonstrates they have a deep appreciation for what it means to be the first members of their family to pursue higher education.

About The Kryder Law Group, LLC First-Generation College Student Scholarship:
“What challenges do you anticipate as a first-generation college student in your family, and how do you foresee overcoming those challenges?” This is the question that scholarship applicants will be asked to address in an essay and include with their applications.

According to First Generation Foundation, 89% of first-generation college students are more likely to drop out of college than students whose parents have college degrees. One reason for this rate—four times higher than the dropout rate among students whose parents finished college—is that first-generation college students might not have their parents’ financial or emotional support in pursuing this education.

“This scholarship will help, not only by awarding financial assistance to the winner, but also by conveying our support to all first-generation college students,” said Andrew S. Kryder, founding member of The Kryder Law Group, LLC. “We also hope that by encouraging all student applicants to think through the reality of being a first-generation college student, they will be mentally prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.”

Essay Topic:
Please compose a 1,000-word essay on the topic indicated below, save it as a PDF, and include it with the application form and other documentation you submit for consideration using the application form on this page.

“What challenges do you anticipate as a first-generation college student in your family, and how do you foresee overcoming those challenges?”

Feel free to elaborate on the types of challenges that might present themselves from your family, as well as those that might stem from not having any familiarity with the college landscape, the rigors of balancing academics with social life, etc. Then tell us what you will think or do to push through these obstacles.