What does "First-Generation College Student" mean?

If you are the first in your immediate family to go to college in the US, but both your parents have degrees from another country, does that make you a first-gen college student? Or does it not matter which country your parents got a degree from?

No, First generation means your parents do not have college degrees period.

The definition differs from college to college but normally if your parents have a bachelor’s degree you are not first generation regardless of which country they received it in. Associate’s on the other hand, it will depend

There is NO formal check off box saying “I’m First Generation”.

The Common App asks you for your parents’ professions and what level of education they’ve achieved. You fill it in appropriately and some colleges will take that in consideration.

From what you’ve written, and if you’re truthful on the CA, you do NOT fall under the def’n of First Generation. Some colleges want to know if you grew up in an educationally impoverished household. Doesn’t sound like you.

Does the actual definition change for the FAFSA?

FAFSA doesn’t care.
Only a few (highly selective) universities care, and for them it means “neither parent got a degree from a 4-year university”, although some alter this to include students whose parents got a degree outside the US and thus may have no clue about the US admissions process. You don’t state you’re “first gen”, you indicate the highest degree your parents got and where from, the universities go from there.

In regards to your parents, FAFSA only cares about how much money they have/ don’t have.

Thanks guys!!