<p>College</a> Search - University of Virginia - UVA - Admission</p>
<p>I was looking at what UVA looked at for admissions and it listed First Generation College Student...</p>
<p>What does that mean? Is it a good thing or bad thing to be a first generation college student?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>It’s a good thing. It means none of your parEnts went to college in the US</p>
<p>Literally, it means none of your parents went to college, period – in or out of the U.S. Or rather, that no one in any generation before you went to college. If your grandparents went, but your parents did not, then you’re not a first-generation student, you are a second-generation student.</p>
<p>However, some universities give a little flex to this definition. Some only count the immediate family, meaning that if your grandparents went you’re still counted (although to me this sort of defeats the purpose, but whatever). Some only count attendance in the United States, so if your parents went to college in another country, you’re still first-generation (I think far fewer colleges do this because this defeats the purpose even more than the first one – someone who’s parents went to Oxford or Tokyo are not on par with someone who’s parents didn’t attend at all).</p>
<p>Your best bet is to e-mail Virginia’s admissions office and ask someone what exactly they mean by FGCS, and who fits into that bubble.</p>
<p>It’s considered a good thing in the app process.</p>