First Generation

First-generation college students often report feeling a lack of belonging on campus or that others don't understand what it means to be first-gen. Vanderbilt University is marking national First-Generation College Celebration Week with a series of events to provide first-gen students with an opportunity to find their community. Read More

Vanderbilt Magazine spoke to several members of the Commodore community about their experiences as the first in their families to graduate from college. Here are the stories they shared. Read More

To quote the great Bob Dylan, the times they are a-changing. When I graduated in 1996, Vanderbilt’s admittance rate sat a shade below 60 percent. For this year’s incoming class, it was 11.6 percent. Read More