<p>Just wanted some clarification on the definition of "first generation". Does this pertain to first generation regardless of anything? My mother immigrated from the PI. She has completed college, just not in America. My father went to Sac State, but left for community college before his junior year.</p>
<p>It pretty much sucks to be in my financial situation. My mother works two jobs as a nurse, and her income is 70k before taxes, but my father is "freelance" (AKA unemployed). I'm a bit worried about financial aid. I do intend to apply for scholarships and FAFSA. Off topic! Sorry!</p>
<p>I was pretty sure I do not qualify as a "First Generation" college student, but I just wanted to get some feedback from all the forumers x]</p>
<p>A little clarification: it's both your mom and your dad. However, when I spoke to an admissions officer about this, she also said that if you have a parent who went to college but with whom you have never had contact (thus you were raised by your non-college-education parent), you'd be considered a first-generation college student. If you live with both your parents (or you have at least active contact with both), and only one of them went to college, you are not a first-gen student.</p>
<p>it ultimately comes down to whether or not your parents had the knowledge and experience to guide you through the college application and entry process (and even college itself) as well as what the climate was in your home concerning college (i.e., apathetic toward college, wanted to send kids but didn't know how, etc.)
Many 1st gen students struggle with not knowing about such things as the SATs/ACTs, being unsure what to write in an essay, or not having taken the right classes to get into a good college and/or to be able to go right into a UG program</p>
<p>^^that pertains to kids with kids with parents from other countries. If your parents went to a third world country college its likely that they didn't have to take or know about the sat or what to write in a essay.</p>
<p>^^ well, even then, I wouldn't say that that's first-gen, as the parents, while ignorant of the college application process in the US, have most likely put their children in an environment that stresses achievement/college.</p>
<p>My counselor told me that First Generation meant that both your parents don't have a Bachelor's degree (apparently that's how it's defined in the states)</p>