<p>I see this on some applications. Do they mean parents that have actual degrees or does this also include those who went to a trade or technical school, some sort of community college program that didn't give a degree but gave a certificate upon completing another type of program? I didn't know what the definition really was here. Plus do they just mean at the parent level, or do they mean grandparents, too?</p>
<p>Or am I thinking of this all wrong and they mean first child in the family to be going to college, not the parents' status? The wording seems vague when saying "first in family." I've seen this on a scholarship application so wanted to be more certain. I will probably check with the college but wanted to get some opinions on the common usage.</p>
<p>I thought if the parent does not have a bachelor's degree the child could say first to attend college. I never thought about the older sibling question, though. Hmmm. And does it matter if the older sibling has graduated... I would ask the college to explain what they are looking for here.</p>
<p>For my S's school, it means if the parents do not have bachelor's degrees. H and I both have some college, and actually H is actively finishing his BA right now. We were invited to a special brunch during move in day for students (and their families) considered "first generation" and he was even given one of the required freshman writing textbooks for free :).</p>
<p>My father, S's grandfather, has multiple degrees-so that doesn't matter. As far as older siblings, that I'm not sure about.</p>
<p>For government programs, first generation means neither parent has graduated from a four year college. Sibs don't matter, nor grandparents. However, an individual school could have its own definition. I'd contact a school to clarify if there is any doubt.</p>
<p>I would not think a BS/BA from another country would not be counted, Dad II, why would that be discounted as a student having a background in a family which is educated?</p>
<p>Dad II, your D may be the first in your family to attend a college in the US, but saying that she is a first-generation college student is a stretch. If your degree is equivalent to a US college degree (can be certified as such by a credentials evaluations agency) and allows you to be professionally employed in the US, your children could not be considered "first generation".</p>
<p>Is "first in family" the same as "first generation"? The reason for my asking is that the definition of "first generation" seems to be that neither parent ever enrolled in a higher education institution. </p>
<p>There is then the question of a step-parent. Neither my x-husband or I have a degree, but my husband has a masters degree and my son lives with he and I. The application asks for the status of the parents/step-parents that the student lives with.</p>
<p>How about all of the people who have medical degrees from China? Those are not recognized as any type of credential in the U.S. If a child in the U.S. has two parents with Chinese medical degrees, I would think institutions would still call that child a first generation college student. </p>
<p>How about if the parents do not speak English well enough to be employed in the U.S. in his or her field - say someone with a bachelor's degree in history an Eastern European country who works as a janitor. If that person were applying for a job that required a history degree, he would be able to say he has a history degree. But he wouldn't be qualified for the job. An engineering degree, the same thing.</p>
<p>I am with Dad II on this. (Unless the college classes were taught in English.) If the parent attended a Western European college or university, which might be a stretch, I would think the college age children of most immigrants with foreign bachelor's degrees could quite fairly be called "first generation college students" here. (Although it is up to the school one is applying to, I know.)</p>
<p>People I know who have foreign bachelor's degrees have needed to do a masters degree in the U.S. (and work on English - A LOT) in order to get a job in their field, whether the job generally required a masters degree or not.</p>
<p>Ethically, doesn't the meaning of first to attend college, really mean--first to ATTEND not graduate from college?
If my father attended college yet didn't graduate from college, he still attended college. If my mother attended college yet didn't graduate from college, she still attended college. If an older sibling is attending college now, does that still imply that the younger sibling is "first to attend college"? I think trying to interpret the meaning of "first to attend college" to fit an agenda is wrong but that's just my personal opinion.</p>
<p>in our experience- most schools are looking for diversity in background/ want to take into consideration parents background & resources when evaluating students.
For immigrants- whether or not parents have a degree or not- there is usually opportunities to note on app that English is a 2nd language.</p>
<p>Unless stated otherwise, colleges are usually asking- do your parents have a degree? From what school?
Sometimes they will ask what educational background?
high school/vocational school etc.
I consider siblings same generation- even if your sib is in college- they are still same gen as you- and they are not really going to be able to supply you with the same background and resources as parents with college degrees would be able to do.
If your parents don't have a degree- then you are first gen college.</p>
<p>If the college is asking if either of your parents have a degree, that's self explanatory.</p>
<p>If the college is asking if the student is "first to attend college", then I disagree with the majority of the posters on this thread. If a parent has attended college, then the child is not "first to attend college". The parent had the opportunity and attended yet didn't graduate. So, to try to make it seem as though the child is "first to attend college" is not stating the truth. </p>
<p>In most cases, as stated by the previous poster, colleges will ask for the educational background of the parents by requesting the number of years in hs and post hs education. Just because a parent doesn't graduate from a college, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't include the number of years they did attend college. An omission of facts (especially to try to give an edge) is nothing short of a lie.</p>
<p>Recent research on admissions at elite universities shows that there is NO advantage given to first to attend. In fact, the data suggests the opposite. In other words, unlike legacies who get, in Harvard's words a "light finger on the scale", first to attend college get the opposite. </p>
<p>Note that this may not be true at some state universities, who can be more formulaic, and even under pressure from their legislature, to act differently.</p>
<p>Bottom line, though, is to not sweat it. If the college has any reason to question, and they rarely do, there are other ways to verify the picture.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How about all of the people who have medical degrees from China? Those are not recognized as any type of credential in the U.S. If a child in the U.S. has two parents with Chinese medical degrees, I would think institutions would still call that child a first generation college student.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This would not be a first generation college student. </p>
<p>While some schools state that first generation as neither parent completed a 4 year degree (it does not matter if the degree was completed in or outside of the U.S.) many schools consider first generation college student as undergraduates whose parents never
enrolled in postsecondary education</p>
<p>Also remember that intentional misrepresentation on the college application could be grounds for having your/your child's admission or degree rescinded</p>
<p>I am with Nysmile. Take a careful look at schools' wording again. I think if school meant only parents, you, and your siblings, then the school would have asked "Anyone in your immediate family ever attend college?". First in family to attend college doesn't seem that hard to define to me. First to graduate college has a different meaning. Immediate family has a different meaning. First generation has a different meaning than first in family. We don't need to define first generation unless that's what the school asked. Father get a degree in France?, then yes he attended college. Yes, an older sibling is family. Yes, your grandfather is your family. Yes, your step-parent is your family. Yes, a Community College is a college. A trade school is not a college. Nysmiles' examples are right on the money. Someone who attends college may or may not graduate. Graduating a community college with an AA or an AS is graduating college(and attending).
However, I'd add its a good idea to call on college to see exactly what they're looking for. I understand one wants to be as appealing on an app as possible, but if OP's own compass doesn't make the answer clear, then call on the school for clarification and examples. I urge OP not to only use this forum as determining factor- there are many different opinions here from well-meaning people, but it might be tempting to pick the advice from the one whose opinion was the most advantageous, and overlook an answer that might be more accurate but less helpful. I say call on the school see how they define it.</p>
<p>Both my husband and I were the first in each of our very extended families to go beyond highschool. At the time, however, no credit was given for this context back in the day. </p>
<p>Now 20 years later we six degrees combined, and PhDs, and oh well, I suppose this will work to our kids' disadvantage! Oh well, so it should be.</p>
<p>Dad II,
don't you have a PhD? (and from a university in the US to boot?) Saying that your D is a first generation college student is more than a stretch - it is outright dishonest IMHO...</p>