While most freshmen find adjustment to college life difficult, minorities -- particularly Mexican-Americans-- expect to face more obstacles than their Caucasian classmates, according to a recent study.

In the University of Oregon study, 436 Caucasian and Mexican-American students were asked about a list of 28 barriers they might face in college and how difficult it might be to overcome them.

The list included preparation, study skills, confidence in their own ability, relational support and motivation, said Ellen Hawley McWhirter, an associate professor who conducted the study.

Of the two groups, the 140 Mexican-Americans said they expected a more difficult time in college.

President of the Mexican American Student Association Gonzalo Cano (senior- international studies) said he related to the study.

"I wasn't sure at all about college, because my parents just came to America and they didn't know anything about the financial aid available or how to apply and I really didn't know what I was going to do about that," he said.

Cano said he realized he'd have to look for help with the language and college culture outside his home. He said he felt uncomfortable and at a disadvantage because he lacks the support that third and fourth generation college students have with scholarships and connections to internships.

"The differences between the results were significant and showed the barriers were harder to overcome," McWhirter said. "I think we have good research that shows first-generation students, no matter what ethnicity, will have a harder time and disadvantage adapting to a new environment with no role models who have been the same position before them."

Lawrence White (senior-telecommunications) said he has personal experience with being a first-generation student.

"A lot of us come from situations where college isn't important because of what parents, friends and the media tell us," he said. "People's mindsets and the flawed school system must change to view college as a solution and not a problem."

According to the Penn State Fact book, enrollment at University Park has risen 5.1 percent to 42,039 from 39,777 in 2005.

Hispanic enrollment rose 6 percent to 1,332 from 1,244 in 2005 with 88 more students, and minority enrollment rose 4 percent to 5,350 from 5,089 in 2005, according to the Fact book.

Edwin Escalet, coordinator of multicultural recruitment, said he agrees that first-generation minority students think there are obstacles. He said their confidence can decrease because they do not have an example for college living.

However, most Latino first-generation students also face cultural pressure to help financially support their families instead of going to college, Escalet said. This occurs because families and parents still need to learn how they can contribute to their child's college process, he said.

Escalet said he works with Penn State program CAMP, "a federally funded program designed to assist first-year college students from migrant and seasonal farm worker families pursue higher education."

"There must be initiative towards strengthening links between families and schools to raise confidence in students and dismantle these barriers," McWhirter said.

Audrey Kharem, director of Student Support Services Program, said she works with the government "to increase the retention and graduation rates of low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities and to foster an institutional climate supportive of the success."

From her experience, she said she notices that it may take first-generation students a little longer to adjust to a college culture that is unfamiliar to themselves and their family, but "if they want it, they can make it, just like everyone else."

Kharem said she encourages students to utilize the support programs available across campus, which can be found at www.equity.psu.edu/mrc/.