<p>so.... I just heard a concept-- First Generation.
I think probably i belong to it. Should I mention it in my application? Will it be helpful or not? Or even harm?</p>
<p>eh i think theres a checkbox or something. u mean first gen college goer? it asks what your parents' levels of education are. unless u can explicitly tie it into your essay and make it meaningful i dont think they care. </p>
<p>im a firstgen also, got into la,sd,irv and i didn't explicitly shout it out on my app.</p>
<p>The school will know if you are first gen by your answer to Mom's and Dad's highest level of education. Even if both attended some college, if neither finished, you are considered first gen. </p>
<p>I probably wouldn't mention it in the essay unless you are the very first person in your entire family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings included) to attend college, let alone graduate from high school, since in that case you wouldn't have had the traditional role models to aspire to college.</p>
<p>yup, i don't think i'll mention it in essay. but, if there is a checkbox or something, i'd like to mention it.
it's better than nothin',right :P but should i submit their certificates during the application process? since they graduated from high school from decades........... i duno it they can still got some certificates</p>
<p>You don't need to submit anything regarding your parents' education levels. There will be questions on the UC application asking for the "highest level of education" for each parent. I think the choices are as such: Some High School, High School, Some College (meaning they attended but did not complete a degree), Bachelor's Degree, Masters, PhD... Maybe not so broken down, but it shouldn't be too unclear. </p>
<p>I don't know if it is a plus to be first generation, but it certainly doesn't hurt.</p>
<p>gogo, you can mention it in your essay but I remember a place on the app asking for the education levels of both your parents. To be first gen, neither can have completed school above the high school level.</p>
<p>For the UCs, first generation status does "count" for something. I remember an admissions person telling my friend that they take it into consideration and I was actually in the room so it's not one of those I heard it from my friend's dog kind of thing but filling out the questions on the app is sufficient for them to note it.</p>