First Generation College Student

<p>I read on collegeboard for admission that UCLA considers "First Generation College Students." What does that mean exactly? Is it like if you're the first one in your family to go to college? And if so, does that give you an extra boost?</p>

<p>yes, first one to go to college</p>

<p>What if your parents received degrees outside the US but didnt attend an American university...would that still count as first gen. ? ...probably not but just asking anyway..</p>

<p>Physics, Nope.</p>

<p>My parents didn't even finish high school, so I'll easily be a first gen.</p>

<p>This is interesting, because of the "boost" first gens are given. But at the same time, legacy candidates are also given a heads up. Seems funny to me. They want you to be the one that establishes a legacy, but you might be snubbed over someone who is already a legacy applicant.</p>

<p>The reason you get a leg up if you are first generation is because you've overcome your environmental circumstances (as opposed to living in a family where your mom and dad have multiple phd's and greatly encourage education), it's somewhat analogous to the URM. </p>

<p>The reason you get a leg up if you are a legacy is the school wants to establish a true family legacy because those usually end up with families who donate large sums of money to the school. And they figure that if your parents succeeded in the institution, their children have a good likelihood of doing the same.</p>

<p>Are you a 1st generation if a parent went to college for one year but didn't graduate?</p>

<p>First generation is only a very small tip factor (not an advantage, just a tip) and is usually taken into consideration with other factors (low income, under performing school, student working or taking care of siblings, etc).</p>

<p>Remember, there are some students who even though they may be first generations, they come from very affluent backgrounds and have been given every advantage so being a first generation gives then no tip factor.</p>

<p>Definition of First-Generation Students: **Undergraduates Whose Parents Never Enrolled in Postsecondary Education **
<a href="http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98082.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98082.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If your parents attended college outside of the U.S. you are not a first generation college student.</p>

<p>Regarding not finishing college- It depends on the college</p>

<p>okay, so question time!!</p>

<p>Dad: born in US(long story... lol), but moved to Honduras, then came at 18... no GED/HS diploma</p>

<p>Mom:naturalized citizen, started college in Honduras, parents divorced, so came here at 19... no college degree...</p>

<p>my parents learned english via some ESL program at a community college like 20some odd years ago... and since this was before the latino-influx, most of the english-learners were asian (mostly korean), so learning english was a MUST...but fast forward 20 years... same education level, but 98/99/100 k income(has flunctuated) a year... dad works a blue-collar job, mom, a white collar one... </p>

<p>will colleges just look at my parents' education level... and ignore the income... or use both...??? will i get status as first generation? (considereing about 1/2 of my immediate family hasnt finished HS, one gramma got as far as 2nd grade... only 2 uncles with BA, and 1 with AA...but dad never finished HS, and mom only did like a year and a half)</p>

<p>is there even a question on applications that asks if you're first generation... or is it something to write in an essay... lol... im so confused...</p>

<p>Am I considered first generation if my parents didn't finish high school but my sister has already graduated from college?</p>

<p>freshelephant: yes you are still first gen. :)</p>

<p>i love how yall skipped my post....!!!</p>

<p>fish, first generation status only looks at your parent's education so if neither of your parents went to college you are first gen... also when you fill out the FAFSA it asks how far your parents got in school so i guess thats how they know... i'm not really sure</p>