<p>Hey Guys!</p>
<p>Quick question, if my parents or no one in my close family has ever gone to a college/graduate school in the US, does this mean I have a small hook or not. Both my parents have went to college in Afghanistan, which isn't leading the world's academic for sure, so will they consider this kind of like a first generation applicant. </p>
<p>It does not matter where your parents went to school. If they had a post secondary experience, then they have that knowledge to pass on to you. So, it’s not a hook.</p>
<p>It’s not a hook, your parents attending some college.</p>
<p>My parents didn’t go to college in the U.S. As well and, as a result, they cannot help me with the whole admissions process. They don’t know/understand the system, and all they are doing to “help” is telling me to finish the app and confusing me with how they did things in our native country (which is different).</p>
<p>I understand that post-secondary education is still an education but it doesn’t mean it is helping you as much as someone else who did have parents study in the US. Am I wrong with this? Is there a way to mention that in the app?</p>
<p>I agree that it’s not a hook, but your Afghani heritage may make for an interesting essay.</p>
<p>@friskysquirrel applying to a college is different and difficult for everyone. </p>
<p>I went through the applications process as a first generation college student and US citizen more than 30 years ago and it is vastly different now for my children who recently went through the current process. Their counselors helped them because we were unfamiliar with the changes in test-taking, transcripts, requirements, etc. We did know how to direct them to picking out where they wanted to go and which acceptances were financially beneficial to their budgets.</p>
<p>It does not matter that your parents went to school in their country; they were afforded the opportunity to continue their education, no matter where they went to school. We have many in the US whose parents, grandparents and great-grandparents never attended a university or college anywhere, ever. Those students are considered first generation.</p>
<p>Just because you don’t know how to fill out the college applications doesn’t mean that you have a hook for being a first generation college student. If you can’t get beyond the US college application process, then maybe you shouldn’t apply to US schools because it is too difficult. </p>
<p>Your parents were able to pass on the information about becoming prepared for college and attending and encouraging you to apply: getting good grades, how to study, what to study, etc. It’s not a hook for you if neither you nor they don’t know how to apply to US colleges. </p>
<p>I think if your parents did not attend college in the USA, then you are a first gen.</p>
<p>@HobbitTon Nope. If your parents attended college at all even if it’s not in USA, then you are not a first gen. </p>
<p>@Hobbiton is wrong. You are not first gen for college admissions. Hook = top athlete, child of big donor, famous person, top scientist. Nothing else is a hook.</p>