Career exploration can feel especially overwhelming for first‑generation, low‑income (FGLI) students, who are often navigating unfamiliar systems, unclear timelines, and limited access to informal guidance. The recent panel co-hosted by PRIMUS and MCS brought together five Harvard seniors, each nearing graduation and reflecting on four years of trial, error, and growth across different career paths.
Embracing the ups and downs of their respective journeys, the panelists focused on the realities of being FGLI: learning things late, feeling behind, changing direction, and figuring it out without a blueprint. The goal was simple—to pass down what they wish they had known earlier.
Panelists
- Ting Ting Yan – Pre‑Med
- Jasai Martinez – Software Engineering / Computer Science
- Mellen Masea – Consulting
- Paloma Del Valle – PhD / Graduate School (Biological Sciences)
- Minerva Garcia – Pre‑Law
“How Did You Figure It Out?” — You Try Things First
A consistent message from all five seniors was that clarity comes after action, not before—especially for FGLI students who may not have early exposure to professional fields.
- Ting Ting Yan shared that while she has always been interested in medicine, she explored research and even consulting along the way. Being in the lab helped her understand what she enjoys and reaffirm her pre‑med path, while still leaving room for flexibility.
- Jasai Martinez tried research sophomore year and quickly realized it wasn’t for him. Without family members in tech to guide him, he learned through experimentation and discovered that he loved building. That realization pushed him toward software engineering and SWE roles.
- Mellen Masea spoke about being accepted into medical school before realizing the training path wasn’t aligned with her interests. Consulting became a way to stay connected to healthcare while exploring impact through a different lens.
- Paloma Del Valle entered college without prior research experience and had to actively seek out lab opportunities. She joined multiple labs before finding the right mentorship and research fit, ultimately committing to the PhD track.
- Minerva Garcia always felt drawn to law, but emphasized that internships helped her understand what type of legal work actually suited her.
Senior takeaway: Trying something and pivoting is not falling behind—it’s how you build information when you don’t start with it.
Navigating Expectations Without a Blueprint
Several seniors spoke about navigating fields with strong default narratives—often without access to the “hidden curriculum” their peers may have had.
- In the life sciences, Paloma described how choosing a PhD path felt isolating in a pre‑med‑dominated environment. Conversations with upperclassmen helped her identify red flags in labs and understand when it was okay to leave.
- Minerva reflected on how identity can sometimes funnel FGLI students toward certain areas of law (like immigration or public interest), but stressed that it’s okay to explore broadly before committing.
- Mellen emphasized that consulting doesn’t have to be an endpoint—especially for students still clarifying their long‑term goals.
Advice: The “expected” path in your field is not the only valid one.
Timelines, Tests, and Learning Things Late
A defining theme of the panel was discovering key timelines after peers—and realizing that this experience is common for FGLI students.
- Pre‑Med (Ting Ting): Taking the MCAT over the summer allows for focused study without balancing classes.
- Pre‑Law (Minerva): Studying for the LSAT during the school year is extremely challenging; taking time off before law school is normal and often beneficial. Looking up JDP timelines early can help avoid unnecessary stress.
- Tech Recruiting (Jasai): Recruiting often prioritizes upperclassmen, but underclassmen shouldn’t panic. Winter break is a great time to focus on skill‑building and technical practice (e.g., LeetCode).
- PhD Path (Paloma): Summer research programs—especially FGLI‑friendly ones like Broad Summer Research Program—were transformative. She recommended drafting personal and research statements the summer before applying to PhD programs and attending conferences (often with fee waivers or scholarships available).
Networking Without Social Capital
The panelists were candid about navigating networking without family connections or formal guidance.
- Cold emailing and LinkedIn outreach were surprisingly effective, especially when contacting entry‑level professionals.
- Jasai emphasized that internships are often the best networking opportunities—relationships form naturally through shared work.
- Many seniors said they wished they had stayed in closer contact with people from earlier internships.
Resources That Made a Difference for FGLI Students
Seniors highlighted resources that helped close financial and informational gaps:
- MCS advisors for resume reviews and grad school application feedback
- House tutors and FGLI‑centered communities like PRIMUS that normalized shared challenges
- Professors, PIs, and postdocs for fellowship applications and personal statements
- FGLI‑specific programs and supports, including:
- Graduate and professional school fly‑in programs
- Broad Summer Research Program
- Mentorship networks like ColorStack and MLT
- Free or subsidized test prep (7Sage for LSAT, MCAT Fee Assistance Program, GRE prep through Leland)
Final Advice From Seniors to FGLI Students
As they reflected on four years of growth, the seniors closed with advice they wished they had heard earlier:
- Don’t over‑optimize for GPA at the expense of exploration
- Talk to upperclassmen early and often
- Keep in touch with people from internships and research programs
- Use fee waivers and FGLI‑specific resources—they exist for a reason
- Most importantly: your path is allowed to change
For first‑generation, low‑income students, success is rarely linear. But as these seniors showed, persistence, reflection, and resourcefulness are powerful forms of expertise in themselves.
You’re not behind—you’re building, with intention.
