Hi everyone,
What is Stanford’s definition of a first gen student? Is it if your parents have not attended college at all (incl. 2-yr college, etc.) or if your parents did not get four year college degrees?
Thank you!
First Gen usually implies your parents did not attend college, whether 2 year or 4 year.
However, it is possible Stanford looks at 4 year college when they evaluate you.
http://news.stanford.edu/2016/09/21/convocation-new-president-welcomes-new-students-parents/
My mother attended a 2-year college and got an associate’s degree. After I got accepted, Stanford sent me a letter from their first gen office about resources, etc. for me. So Stanford seems to define first gen as first to attend a four-year institution.
Every school has its own definition of the term. For instance, some schools consider kids of parents who attended a four-year but did not graduate a first generation and others do not. You have to check the policies of each school carefully. When in doubt, call the admissions office.