<p>I am an adopted student from Russia and both of my birth parents never went to college. The parents who have adopted me did go to college. I was adopted at only a few months old but even at that age, from what my adoptive mom has said, I have definitely been affected by the rejection of my birth mom. I have numerous mental, physical, and social disabilities I have gotten out of nowhere that slow me down and prevent me from doing lots of things. My psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist and doctor all say most of it is because of genetic reasons. I'm not sure if I would be considered first generation or not under my circumstances. When I am in school I can definitely say I work twice as hard as other students, whatever takes them an hour to do, takes me 2 or more. This even goes for everything I do outside of school. ALL of my friends, yes I did say ALL, have parents who are doctors and lawyers...I live in apparently the most educated city in America. I take the same, highly difficult, classes as them but I am so much slower and get worse grades even when I work my butt off (I refuse to work in lower classes because I AM a hard worker no matter how much time it takes)! I understand I have lived with my adoptive parents almost my entire life but I have nothing biologically in common with them and my abilities aren't related to theirs. Hopefully, after reading that you can get a feel of what it's like to be in my shoes and help me under my circumstances to see if I would be a first generation college student. I don't want colleges or you, the reader, to feel bad for me but I want them/you to understand that I should be equally seen as other first generation students despite the fact that I live with adoptive parents because I still have to face the same struggles as them just under a different roof. What do you think?</p>
<p>This has been discussed before on CC and the consensus was that adopted kids raised in a family with college educated parents are not considered first generation. It’s not about the biological aspect, it’s about the college-going culture created in a family where parents have had that experience. Perhaps your essays can reflect upon your adoption experience and the challenges you have overcome in school. You sound like a great, hardworking kid and are to be commended for putting in the extra effort needed to excel. Best of luck to you. </p>
<p>No, you are not first generation. Your parents are your LEGAL parents which are the ones who legally adopted you. If you have disabilities, you might be able to get some concession on the time given for the SAT and ACT tests. </p>
<p>The most selective schools like to see students who have challenges like you have AND who have overcome them, not those who are visibly struggling with them. There are a number of such students who do surmount their difficulties. </p>
<p>I think that with the difficult courses you have taken and your work ethic, you will find a school that will be able to give you challenging courses.</p>
<p>Do not be concerned about this. This would not be a major point for you college application. What I would do is put a short note in the Other Info section to say you were adopted and that your birth parents were not college educated and you have given them the info they need to make their own evaluation.</p>
<p>As far as your other struggles, you can certainly include information on that. I would be extra diligent in your college search that you are looking at the right colleges for you, where you can thrive. I would not try to use this info to get into a college where you are at the bottom of the class. I don’t think it helps you in the long run. Instead I would just use it as a footnote, so colleges that ‘fit’ can see that your have persevered. Just my advice.</p>