<p>I'm a first generation college applicant. Parents are refugees from Vietnam during the infamous war.</p>
<p>Yes, being the first in your family to go to college is considered an advantage.</p>
<p>@Blackandyellow How much of an advantage? Big/Small/Medium?</p>
<p>How much of an advantage depends on how strong a candidate you are for that college. And, what the competition among first-gens is, plus the rest of the considerations- eg, geographical diversity, etc.</p>
<p>Extracurricular and volunteer are a +
Good APs, IBs, GPA, SAT, and ACTs are ++
If you are lower income, ++
First college student is a +++
(if you are American and in state)
Unemployed parents and you work is a +++
If you’re in foster care is a +++++</p>
<p>Use the "+"s to judge. More is more aid, more higher chance of entry.</p>
<p>As a first gen college student, you should already automatically apply for a few government funds. It also depends on your current income, scores/grades, and what school you’re applying to. A small college is easier to get funds than from USC or Yale.</p>
<p>If you’re a great student and it’s an upper tier school, the advantage is HUGE.
I know someone who got into Northwestern with a 26 ACT because they were the first to go to college.
BAM.</p>
<p>It definitely can help you, esp if you can link it to some outcome or impact on your life that holds meaning.</p>
<p>A small college isn’t easier to get funds from than USC or Yale. It very specifically depends on: how much money that school gives out, whether it is “meet full need,” and what your family’s “financial aid need” is. And then a few other details. Look at finaid.org. Carefully read a college’s finaid web pages. Run the calculators for your family particulars. Plenty of small colleges don’t have much aid to give.</p>
<p>The general thought is this: a private LAC or U may turn out to be more generous- and cost less- than some public schools where you are in-state. So aim for both types.</p>
<p>How does having low family income make you at a advantage?</p>
<p>Yes, definitely, when applying to colleges. But not necessarily in other areas.</p>
<p>Low income doesn’t put you at any advantage all by itself. It’s when, despite low income or some related family challenges, you still did many of the right things. Eg, it can be harder to get to some vol work than for the kid who owns a car, but you did it. Or, you maintain involvement in ECs, though you have a job.</p>
<p>Being first generation to go to college or university may be considered in university admissions. To find out roughly how important each university considers it, look for the Common Data Set on each university’s web site – in it is a list of what factors are considered and how important they are.</p>