<p>My parents do not have college degrees. My dad for a while when I was a kid took a few classes through the Air Force but did not finish with an associates and I think failed most of them. No one else previously in my family has ever graduated with more than an HS diploma.</p>
<p>Colleges and programs have different definitions of first gen. Sometimes it’s not getting a degree, other times it’s not having any education beyond HS. In the great majority of cases, they don’t actually ask, “Are you a first gen college student?”, but rather ask for the college history of your parents (eg. college attended, year, degree earned), and then they determine if you fit their definition of first gen.</p>
<p>I have heard of one case with a scholarship where they simply asked if you were first gen and didn’t provide a definition. In such a case, I’d say one needs to contact the school or program and ask for their definition of first gen.</p>
<p>If neither of your parents have ever attended or graduated from a four yr school, most schools will consider you first gen.
Considering your father wasn’t successful in taking post high school coursework, programs that are designed to assist first gen students could be very helpful for you.</p>
<p>What about me?
My mom took some night classes at 2 different colleges. No degree though.
My dad was enrolled full-time at a college, but he didn’t like it but wouldn’t tell his parents, so every day for almost a full semester, just after his parents dropped him off, he would turn around and walk home. He eventually did really drop-out and joined the navy. However I think his parents paid full tuition.
Out of my 4 grandparents, one attended a police academy. That’s it.</p>
<p>Petlover, Did you read post #2?</p>
<p>Oops I missed that one.</p>