Am I considered a first-generation college student?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi,
My family just moved to the US one year ago. My father received his B.A in accounting from a university in Vietnam. However, this degree is not accredited by any institutions of higher education in the US. Therefore, my father can only do normal labor work to support our family. The local community college told my dad to study for GED and college again.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if I am a first-generation college student or not. And anyone know how colleges verify this? (For US citizens, it will be easy to find out. How about my situation?)</p>

2

<p>No, a parent with a degree from anywhere counts.</p>

3

<p>@hmom5: Could you provide me with any official sources or links?</p>

4

<p>No, you are NOT a first generation college student if one of your parents has earned a college degree – regardless of where it was earned or whether or not it has any value here in the U.S. </p>

<p>On page 2 of the Common App (under “Family”), it asks for any colleges your parents attended and if they received a degree. It does not ask for just American colleges your parents attended. </p>

<p>However, you may want to check with the specific colleges you are applying to to see if they have a different definition. Sometimes a school will have its own Common App supplement that clearly states what it considers to be a first generation college student. (Some schools will still consider you to be a first generation student if one of your parents attended, but did not graduate from, college. But that clearly does not apply in your situation.) Here are just a few random examples that I found with a quick google search:</p>

<p><a href=“http://acadserv.usfca.edu/preview/acadserv/admission/undergraduate/CommonAppSupplement_Layout_111.pdf[/url]”>http://acadserv.usfca.edu/preview/acadserv/admission/undergraduate/CommonAppSupplement_Layout_111.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>[Austin</a> College. Sherman, Texas](<a href=“http://www.austincollege.edu/Form.asp?2706]Austin”>http://www.austincollege.edu/Form.asp?2706)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.hws.edu/admissions/pdf/supplement.pdf[/url]”>http://www.hws.edu/admissions/pdf/supplement.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Because your father has a college degree, none of these schools would consider you to be a first generation college student.</p>