Do I count as first-gen?

Applying to College
1

My father did not go to college, and my mother has an Associate’s Degree. I have researched it on here before but haven’t found a definitive answer. Does my situation count as a first-gen hook? Or is the first-gen hook not black and white and instead on a gradient?

2

You would be considered 1st gen in the organization I volunteer for. If I remember correctly the common ap just asks about parental education level, doesn’t use the phrase first gen.

If you are a strong student you should look into the diversity fly in visits offered. Many colleges include first gen in their list of who is eligible. You would need to contact the admissions offices and get an application for a fly in during the early part of the summer after your junior year.

3

Harvey Mudd http://newwww.hmc.edu/admission/fast/fall-fast-program-seniors/

http://admission.scrippscollege.edu/discoverscripps

http://www.middlebury.edu/admissions/visit/programs

http://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/visiting_campus/transportation_assistance.html

http://www.grinnell.edu/admission/visit/gdpp

http://www.whitman.edu/admission/visit/visit-scholarship-program

http://www.bates.edu/admission/prologue/

http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/admissions/mvp/apply.dot

http://www.fandm.edu/summit

http://www.conncoll.edu/admission/visiting-campus/explore-weekend/

http://barnard.edu/node/6934

https://college.lclark.edu/offices/admissions/multicultural_recruitment/lead/

http://admissions.tufts.edu/voices

http://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/celebration-of-diversity-weekend

http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/falltravelgrant
http://www.bates.edu/admission/prologue/

http://www.kenyon.edu/x1697.xml

https://williams-uga.edu.185r.net/survey/?id=104

https://www.amherst.edu/admission/diversity/divoh

http://www.oxy.edu/admission-aid/connect-us/guidance-college-counselors/fall-mvp

http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/visit/TOC/

http://www.brandeis.edu/admissions/seed/

http://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/celebration-of-diversity-weekend

http://www.kzoo.edu/admission/visiting/multicultural-program/

http://simpson.edu/admissions/visit-simpson/fly-in-program/ $150 towards airfare

http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/email-landing-pages/mvd/email.html free bus from Chicago

http://enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/mvp/ Univ of Rochester

http://www.uvm.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visiting/?Page=discover.html U ofVermont

http://denison.edu/campus/admissions/schedule-a-campus-visit/air-denison-recommendations up to $500

http://www.lawrence.edu/admissions/visit bus from St Paul and Bloomington MN and IL

http://www.pomona.edu/admissions/diversity/msap-fall-weekend.aspx

http://www.trincoll.edu/StudentLife/Diversity/Preview/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.union.edu/admissions/_prv/getting-to-know-u/

http://www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/student-color-open-house few details

http://www.bryant.edu/resources/files/Admissions/BryantFly-in14.pdf

https://www.smith.edu/admission/wod/ Women of Distinction

4

My list hasn’t been updated recently. If a link is no good you can tell by the web address which college it is and contact them.

5

@youngniel Yes, many schools will consider that first generation. Some won’t though. For the most part, college apps only ask for “highest level of education” for each parent. If you are concerned about a specific school or scholarship question though, just call them and ask.

6

I wouldn’t say first gen is a hook, but it’s definitely something colleges pay attention to.

7

@“Snowball City”

This link in your above post seems to be broken. FYI.

http://www.bryant.edu/resources/files/Admissions/BryantFly-in14.pdf

8

Thanks. I haven’t found the correct link yet but I will keep looking.

They do seem to reimburse half of a visit airfare, up to $150. If you enroll they will pay the other half. This offer is good for everyone.
http://www.bryant.edu/resources/flyin_flyer_July2016.pdf

9

You will be asked to write each parents level of education on your application and each college will made a determination as to if you are first gen or not.

In any even first gen is not a “hook” in the sense that a college will want YOU over others with the same profile (such as would be the case for a recruited athlete, a child of a huge donor etc.) but your background will be one of many factors considered in any holistic application review.

10

On the application form, it will ask your parent’s education level. Based on that, the school would determine whether you are a first gen college student. One thing for sure though, if neither of your parent had any post-secondary education, you should be a first gen college student.