<p>Would my son be considered 'first generation' if neither his dad nor I GRADUATED from college? Or does the fact that we went at all disqualify him for this hook?</p>
<p>The Common App asks applicants to identify each parent’s “College (if any)”, “Degree” and “Year”. How do colleges interpret and apply this information? It likely varies from one admission committee to another, applicant to applicant, maybe year to year. So it goes with “holistic” admission. </p>
<p>I doubt this issue has much significance one way or the other for your child’s application.</p>
<p>For almost all the schools that DS sent in an application, he was considered 1st generation because I didn’t graduate, and at the state school, he was 1st gen AND a legacy. It is a great question for the admission office.</p>
<p>Good question. But also…how much of a “hook” do you hope this will be.</p>
<p>I never really understood why it’s a hook at all…</p>
<p>Being a first generation college student is not a hook. It is a tip that is usually combined with other things; low income, URM, student attending a low performing schools.</p>
<p>Schools interpret 1st gen different ways. Some schools will consider you first gen if neither parent completed a bachelors degree. Some schools will not consider you a first gen if your parents have any college at all.</p>
<p>Some schools have additional support for first gen students. It is a steep learning curve for your family if the parents have never attended college, to prepare their child to do so.
If the parents attended college but did not graduate, that also may indicate that support is lacking in the extended family, as compared to legacy applicants.</p>
<p>I’m kind of amused that first gen would be ‘combined with other things’ like low income, etc. That’s kind of a broad generalization. In my case, I didn’t finish college because I started my own business. </p>
<p>Anyway, wasn’t sure if it would be an advantage (kind of like a first time home-buyer). Thanks for the info, though! I think he’ll do fine on his own merits.</p>