<p>ok, im not a URM, dont have legacy, not a recruited athelete, but, i may have first generation college..im not sure, so evaluate it..
my parents went to colleges in india, but neither of them have US degrees...my mom has an india-certified degree in commerce and my dad has an associates in electrical engineering...basically, that amounts to nothing in the US...where do i stand?</p>
<p>Yes, neither of these would count as the equivalent of bachelors degrees in the US--so I would put that neither of them graduated from a 4-year school. This does make you a first generation college student.</p>
<p>no what? thats not fair. they have some college education though</p>
<p>You're not a first-generation college student. The common app will ask about any college education your parents have had, and that includes universities throughout the world, not just American universities. And don't try to omit that information, as it could come back to hurt you.</p>
<p>I have a similar question. My dad got his B.S. and masters in China, and then his Ph.D in New Zealand. Although it may sound absurd, would I be considered a first generation college student?</p>
<p>No, askme. I mean he's got a freaking doctorate!</p>
<p>Let me be clear here--most apps ask if your parents "graduated" from college. That's not the case here (certified is not equivalent to graduation) and associates (in India) is not the same as graduating either.</p>
<p>Which country they went to has nothing to do with it. Also, as fusiondogg said, if the app asks for whether they "went to college", then that's different. But usually "first generation college" refers to graduating--at least that's my understanding.</p>
<p>Take a look at the UC application (you can find it here: <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/pdf/Application_FR.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/pdf/Application_FR.pdf</a>)</p>
<p>It has boxes (question 32) asking if your parents attended (1) some college, (2) graduated from a two-year school, (3) graduated from a 4-year school, or (4) attended a graduate program. My understanding is that you get extra points for boxes (1) or (2) being checked (but not 3 and 4).</p>