How much do colleges really consider this?
Probably less than they publically tout.
It would be difficult to know. I don’t know if the scholarship committee just looked at my D’s grades and scores, ECs and LOR, or took into consideration that she is a first generation college student and attended a small rural high school as well.
If 2 students were identical in all respects except one was first generation, I would guess that the adcoms would assume that the first generation student got there on a more difficult path. Parents may not have been aware of how to “play the game” or may not have emphasized resume building activities.
Remember that most schools want their students to succeed, so they will be reluctant to take any student who isn’t qualified. Many schools also have special programs to support these students because their challenges will be different than those of a student whose parents were buying onesies from their alma maters and funding their 529 plans from birth.
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My opinion…being first generation MIGHT (nite MIGHT) get the attend ion of admissions.
I don’t think it would get you additional financial aid.
First generation by it self means nothing. You can and do have a first generation student of self made wealthy parents
who have the means to provide their kids with opportunities, (tutoring, private schools, the ability to attend school in a strong school district).
Most schools define first generation as parents who have not completed a bachelors degree. First generation becomes a tipping factor when it is combined with other things; attending low performing schools, students from low income backgrounds, etc.
It is a factor colleges tout, more being “better,” ergo 1st gen status is a plus on your application, but still only one factor of many. The more “elite” the school, the more it may factor in, while for state schools and more modest colleges, it may not factor in at all. The CDS will tell you for a particular college (Section C7).
The “elite” colleges have been under pressure to accept more students different from traditional “Ivy Leaguers” and that’s part of why 1st gen status has become a factor.
But they also have various programs; Questbridge, Posse, SEO, ABC programs, HEOP, NOP amongst others to help vet some of these students.
Still, first gen in an of itself does nothing for you as you will still have to bring your “A” game (and probably a compelling story and excellent recs) to the table and be a viable candidate.