First-Generation Student: Nicolas Rankin

Stepping into a new environment can be daunting for anyone. But for freshmen who are the first in their families to attend college, that first semester may be particularly challenging as they navigate financial aid packages, class schedules, and campus logistics on their own.

First-generation college student Nicolas Rankin knows these challenges first-hand.

Rankin, now a junior majoring in finance at SDSU’s Fowler College of Business, found himself plotting a very uncertain path during his first months at a local community college.

“I wanted to go to college because it felt like the clearest way toward building skills, accessing opportunities, and allowing me to pursue the path of my choosing, which was not a common belief in my family,” said Rankin, a native of Oceanside, California. “But when I enrolled in community college, I realized I didn’t know what classes to take or what resources were available.”

Rankin was living at home and working full-time to pay for his education with the goal of completing his bachelor's degree debt-free. “Balancing school with work and family responsibilities was stressful because it felt like I had to manage everything without much guidance,” he noted.

One thing Rankin learned was how to manage his finances. He became so good at it that he was able to fund a trip to Europe. It was also his very first time on an airplane.   

“Experiencing a new culture and lifestyle set me up for success by instilling new personal goals and development that I didn’t expect,” said Rankin. “I learned more about myself and how to manage resources, and I got to see the world outside of California.

Two years after earning his associate's degree and with two more trips to Europe under his belt, Rankin was filled with newfound confidence. He decided to take the next step to earn his bachelor’s degree.

“I chose to come to SDSU because I wanted a big environment that had a lot of support for students interested in business,” said Rankin. “I also wanted to be at a university I would be proud to represent.”

However, enrolling at SDSU also came with a hard choice.

“With my lack of parental financial support, I had originally planned to commute to SDSU from Oceanside,” he said. “But I realized that I couldn’t meet my goal of maximum campus involvement if I didn’t live near the campus. Luckily, I was able to find a house near SDSU, which allowed me to build real experience through clubs, leadership opportunities, and internships.”

Rankin noted that his involvement with student organizations has helped him to adjust to life at a major university and brought him some new growth opportunities as well.

“Balancing school with work and family responsibilities was stressful at times because I felt like I had a lot to manage without much guidance,” said Rankin. “But over time, I learned how to plan ahead, use campus resources, and navigate the system with confidence.”