Black graduate women (BGW) are among the fastest-growing groups within higher education, and they make up the most significant number of students of color at graduate and undergraduate levels. Indeed, they outnumber other groups of color by two to one. This systematic literature review identifies three significant themes impacting their experiences: racial battle fatigue, intersectionality, and lack of mentorship. Recommendations are highlighted as institutional acknowledgment and support, creating mentoring opportunities and pathways to healing and freedom. Additionally, coping mechanisms are explored in the chapter.

This chapter will serve as a literature review of first-generation college students. The authors will discuss the definition of being first-generation. Additionally, there will be concentration on the barriers faced at both the pre-college and college levels, along with recommendations for individual and institutional support. To further highlight the self-efficacy of first-generation students, personal narratives will be used to tell their stories about their own experiences. Lastly, using a strengths-based model approach, the authors will uncover what institutions can do to recruit but retain this student population.