What does first generation college student mean?

heather123 · 07-05-2009, 05:55 PM

What does it mean? And why do they ask?

MeKimber · 07-05-2009, 06:02 PM

It means that you are the first in your immediate family to go to college. ie...your parents have up to a high school diploma only.

MeKimber · 07-05-2009, 06:03 PM

some schools have special programs for first generation students and also offer additional aid to qualifying families with first generation students. It really all depends on the school.

mickymick56 · 02-06-2010, 09:23 PM

what if neither of your parents graduated college, but you have older siblings that have gone before you? would you still be a first generation college student?

mojeniebo · 02-06-2010, 09:42 PM

Yes, you still are first generation.

entomom · 02-07-2010, 12:08 AM

Different colleges/programs use different definitions of first gen. Some consider you first gen if neither of your parents ever attended college, others consider you first gen if neither of your parents earned a college degree. None of them consider siblings, only parents.

First gen can sometimes be a tip factor for college admissions.

For college admissions, they don't actually ask directly, rather they ask for each parent: college attended (if any), degree earned and what year. From that information, THEY determine if you fit into their definition of first gen.

FYI: This is a FAQ here on CC and it is easy to use the Search function to find many pertinent threads.

oahuuu · 02-09-2010, 11:18 AM

Why do colleges favor 1st generation students?

entomom · 02-09-2010, 11:37 AM

Because they haven't had the advantage of having parents who understand college admissions and possibly who don't recognize or support the importance of a college education.

fireandrain · 02-09-2010, 01:33 PM

It's another diversity factor. It often means the family comes from a lower socio-economic group, parents are working class/blue collar. The college feels it is serving society by accepting a student who is getting a higher education than their parents.

Ones · 03-03-2010, 08:07 PM

What if your parents attended college in another country?

anagenesis · 03-03-2010, 08:14 PM

^ That definitely doesn't count. First gen is if your parents haven't gone to college (or haven't completed college in some cases) EVER, whether the college is in the U.S. or in India doesn't matter.

CORNELLED1 · 11-30-2010, 09:21 AM

How do admission officers know and check about first generation college international students?

smileygerl · 11-30-2010, 09:27 AM

Some colleges consider you a first generation college student if you go to a 4yr college and you parents graduated from a 2yr college(Cornell and MIT per their admission office).

nedo99 · 11-30-2010, 03:13 PM

My counselor said I was a first gen college student because my parents went to schools in the Soviet Union that don't exist anymore, even though my Mom got her MBA here. I hope she's right, but I don't have tremendous confidence in her.

glassesarechic · 11-30-2010, 04:29 PM

Being first generation is rarely a hook, though it can be a small tip factor in admissions.