College student retention is an important concept in higher education. For individuals, college retention translates to earning a degree, and for institutions, it translates to maintaining revenue. Many factors put college students at risk for withdrawing from college, including being a student from Appalachia, being considered a first-generation student, and being a student experiencing impostor phenomenon. At the time of this study, there was no research found regarding students who met all three criteria. Through this qualitative study, I sought to identify students who identified as all three factors, understand the prevalence of impostor phenomenon in first-generation college students in Appalachia, gain insight into the experiences of first-generation college students with high levels of impostor phenomenon, and explore factors that led to first-generation students' persistence in college. Upperclassmen at a university in the Appalachian region completed a questionnaire designed to answer three research questions. Appalachian, first-generation students perceived comparison with peers, minimization of success and external factors such as luck, family obligation, and overwhelm due to school assignments as factors leading to impostor phenomenon. Appalachian, first-generation students were able to persist in light of the feelings of impostor phenomenon by leaning on their support system from home and longing to make them proud, while developing a sense of belonging in college, remembering what they hope to achieve by attending college, using logic to deter negative feelings, and developing effective study habits. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]