<p>My mom didn't go to college and my father didn't complete his studies at college.</p>
<p>All 3 of my sisters went to good colleges, however.</p>
<p>Do I still count as a first generation even though my dad did partially go to college (he never graduated).</p>
<p><~~~~ has the same question...</p>
<p>no, you would not be considered first generation as most first gen. students have parents who have never attended college</p>
<p>what if my parents just took community education classes (ESL) at the community college?</p>
<p>What's the difference between parents who never attended college and parents who dropped out? The end result is the same, the same jobs are available etc.</p>
<p>does first generation mean your parents never went to college in the US?</p>
<p>Flippy,</p>
<p>To most colleges and universities, "first generation" college student has been defined as somebody whose parents (both of them) have had NO college/university experience, period.</p>
<p>For AznPwyd:
[quote]
what if my parents just took community education classes (ESL) at the community college?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If your parents have ONLY taken ESL classes at a community college, I'm certain that colleges would not consider that to be college/university experience.</p>
<p>Place this matter of "first generation" in context... the colleges are factoring in possible blue-collar, lower-income, and/or recent immigrant circumstances that place them at a disadvantage to making the adjustment from secondary/h.s. education levels to the higher education level. For most elite schools, they will look at a student with a more wholistic perspective -- considering non-academic factors that may offset less than superior academic numbers. Many will want MORE than just academic achievements -- because MOST applicants to say the Ivies will bring this with them anyway. For many of these schools, they do not want to just add a "first generation" student for the sake of doing so -- each applicant will be considered based on finely-tuned and weighted criteria, and "first generation" is but one factor (and not necessarily regarded as either extremely important or compelling stood alone). It's not the matter of being defined as "first generation", rather it's a tip to the adcom that there may be something further to examine with this type of applicant. If upon further review, there's no substance to the applicant, consideration is suspended. The Adcom will be asking, "What is this student bringing to this school? How will this student fit in? Will this student succeed here?"</p>
<p>Further to Flippy, if you have had 3 sisters who have all gone to good colleges, you would appear less credible to claim to be "first generation".</p>
<p>
[quote]
does first generation mean your parents never went to college in the US?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If your parents have attended college either *** in or outside of the U.S. *** you are not considered first generation.</p>