<p>I’ve read that first generation college students have an edge. What are your thoughts? Do they mean No collgege classes or no degree?</p>
<p>I think it means no degree. As to whether its an advantage in the admission process, it may be for some schools. Or, it may be a reason used to explain why this child got accepted-or didn’t get accepted. I believe every child has a quality and ability that demands respect and courtesy. As parents that is what should be the focus, not whether we have earned a college degree.Good Luck to you, and your child!!!</p>
<p>It’s an advantage at a number of colleges.</p>
<p>it is an asset because it serves as an indicator to colleges that you are self-motivated, and it is not just your parents pushing you to succeed.</p>
<p>what types of colleges? im a first gen.</p>
<p>mostly private, because they have enough qualified applicants to look at ‘other factors’</p>
<p>another question: does anyone know about 2nd gen?</p>
<p>The UCs look at the attribute of first gen.</p>
<p>First generation college will be viewed positively in admissions at virtually any of the top several dozen universities and liberal arts colleges in the country.</p>
<p>There are two primary reasons:</p>
<p>a) Colleges typically seek to enroll students from more diverse backgrounds (i.e. they don’t want ALL wealthy, silver-spoon students).</p>
<p>b) Colleges look to see what an applicant has done with the resources available. Generally speaking, first generation college kids will have had less opportunity for SAT prep courses, hired college counselors, expensive EC hobbies, etc. This is all factored in how the application is evaluated.</p>
<p>If your ‘non-college’ parents are giving you such gems of widsom as, “But you have almost all As, you could get in to any school! Even Harvard! Harvard’s too expensive for us, though, so don’t bother,” then no they are not assets. </p>
<p>Everyone says they factor in things like whether you’ve got parents that know how to play the game and can buy you a nice application, but in my experience I’m not honestly convinced that they care.</p>
<p>My mother has an AA and my father has no degree. Does that count as 1st gen, or would both parents have to have no degree?</p>
<p>Not that it really matters for me personally, but I’m a little curious.</p>
<p>If by asset you mean slightly improve the chance of getting into college, then yes. College isn’t everything though.</p>
<p>Elvellon–in the federal college support program i work for, you’d be considered first gen (neither parent has four year degree.) Different colleges may see it different ways; all you can do is list the facts and hope that it makes a difference.</p>
<p>My son is first generation, could it possibily make any diference at all if he has older sibs who have degrees? On the common app the question below parents college history asks about siblings. My son has a half brother and sister who have earned degrees. Is this a plus, or neutral. Do you typically include halfs?</p>
<p>I’d say he’d still be considered first gen, with any plus that came with at that school. The thinking is that, regardless of older sibs, he still mightn’t have the same kind of guidance that a student whose parent(s) went to college would have had, regardless of what his sibs did.</p>
<p>Depends, Outside of the common application, many specific college application do not ask about parents college : the only way to impart this would be through the essay. NOTHING will take the place of high SATs and community service activities in getting into a competive school (unless you are noveau rich and can make a full endowment 
)</p>
<p>This is another example of admin PR versus reality. </p>
<p>As other posters have shown in their replies, it is “common knowledge” that first generation applicants get an edge.</p>
<p>It also happens to be false. Research with actual admissions data has shown that there is no advantage given these kids. Even more interestingly, coming from a lower SES group seems to be of no advantage, when controlling for other factors.</p>
<p>I do agree that it would appear, and several admissions insider books have claimed, that coming from a highly educated, well to do family may raise the bar. So, I suppose from that, one might argue that the lack of a raised bar is something of an advantage. </p>
<p>Anyway, you first timers, beware. You will need a competitive package, and I would not count on any help from pioneer status, in spite of conventional wisdom AND pronouncements of adcoms. This is far from the first example of adcom claims not being supported by actual data.</p>
<p>Sad but true.</p>
<p>wow… that is unfair…</p>
<p>how was the study conducted? maybe by #s first gen students had no advantage, but they also had lower stats overall and lower stats were admitted as well???</p>