First-generation student navigates college experience
Sophomore business administration major Camrynn Frese finds her place at KU and the School of Business
Camrynn Frese always had a feeling that she would attend college. The sophomore business administration major from Quincy, Illinois, first became interested in business during high school, when she worked as a key holder at a local retail shop. It was there she discovered her passion for the world of business and the responsibilities that come with leadership roles.
She considered taking a gap year after graduation when the local retail store she was working for offered her a promotion to assistant manager, but she decided that earning a degree would provide her with more opportunities in the long run.
Frese is a first-generation college student. Around 54 percent of undergraduate students in the U.S. identify as first-generation, according to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. In 2022, one-third of college students were first-generation. According to Forbes, Kansas had 35.99% of students first-generation students as of June 2023.
Despite her initial certainty about attending college, Frese began to feel apprehensive about her decision and wondered if she was cut out for it when it was time for her to apply. Her parents supported her, which eased her uncertainty.
“My mom did a semester at community college, but she didn’t finish, and my dad didn’t go to college at all and just went straight to the workforce,” Frese said. “Growing up, I always felt like my parents wanted their children to do better than they did and were really hoping we would try to go to college. I was on the fence because I didn’t think I was good enough for college, but my parents told me to just apply because ‘you never know.’”
Frese watched her older brother attend a Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was excited to experience her brother go away for college but did not completely ease her nerves. Her brother would talk about his love for his college experience but also about the challenges he faced, specifically the transition from high school to college. This made her question her decision to attend a university, but her brother reassured her about the value of embracing new experiences.
As she navigated the college application process, Frese’s top options were KU and the University of Iowa. Frese’s hometown friends had recommended she apply to KU, telling her she would love the School of Business and its programs.
Ultimately, she decided on KU because of the scholarships, especially the MSP Scholars Program in Business (MSP-Business). MSP-Business helps Jayhawks grow as leaders in their field and community while also providing access to professional and community-based opportunities. For Frese, it gave her a sense of belonging and community and has allowed her to form meaningful friendships at KU. Coming from out of state, she did not know many people and was able to create connections with other students.
MSP-Business hosts events that Frese sees as beneficial to her future such as professional networking, which taught her how to properly network. The program also offers free tutoring and helped Frese grasp concepts she struggled with in class.
As she narrowed down her interests, Frese debated majoring in psychology since she enjoyed it in high school. After contemplating her future, she chose business administration because she felt it would offer her more career opportunities.
She felt reassured in this decision after taking ACCT 200 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting and finding mentorship in her T.A. who supported her and made her feel heard.
“She was amazing. She graduated, but she was always so helpful,” Frese said. “Whenever something would come up, she would always take the time to help me through it.”
Outside of classes, Frese has found her people through the college program at Story Hill Church and has built friendships and found a family away from home. On campus, she hopes to become more involved and is considering joining the Women’s Business Club. This club works to promote the advancement of women in business, regardless of identity, orientation and major.
“My friend recommended it to me and said I would really enjoy it and talked about how good of a club it is,” Frese said. “I have heard great things about it and how they help you expand your overall knowledge of your business major. By sending in my interest form to them, I’m also hoping to also gain some wisdom on certain choices that others have made before me. It’s helpful to see how they found their internships and when they started them, what are their best study habits for the more demanding courses, and how to get your professional foot in the door so you can be prepared for your time outside of KU.”
Frese is open to seeing where her major takes her in her future career. She had the opportunity to attend a walk-through of Northwestern Mutual, a financial advising office, her summer before sophomore year in her hometown in Illinois. After attending, a recruiter from the Olathe, Kansas, branch reached out to her.
“I had to set up LinkedIn my freshman year for BUS 110 Intro to Professionalism and make a profile saying that I was a current Jayhawk searching for business internships; then their recruiter messaged me,” Frese said. “I was actually kind of surprised when someone reached out to me. It was not shadowing, more small talk where they walked me through the office showing me what a typical day in the life of an employee looks like.”
After her experience, she hopes to receive an internship with the company for her summer going into junior year.
Looking back on her time before college, she feels incredibly grateful and lucky she decided to attend the University of Kansas and that she left home, despite her fears.
“For anyone who is considering college, I think always apply and never limit yourself or your boundaries,” Frese said. “I was super scared, and then I got in and was really shocked by that. So do not limit yourself; the possibilities are endless.”
The University of Kansas offers several resources for first-generation students:
- I Am First Too provides a place for students to build their network and connect with a community.
- Hawk Link supports students in all parts of their college journey through individualized and community-based support programs.
- TRIO SES & STEM offers support services through advising and support, career exploration, graduate school preparation and more.
By Grace Ludes
