<p>My college counselor told me that a first generation student meant that neither parent went to a four-year college. However, I've read conflicting arguments. What's the real deal? I'm a low income, URM, but my mom did attend two years of community college. My counselor says I'm first generation, but am I really?</p>
<p>Do a search through CC. It depends on the school’s definition.</p>
<p>I would say that you could still put that as first generation. I do agree though that every college is different. Some say that first generation is applies only to parents but some schools count grandparents as well.</p>
<p>What about aunts, uncles, cousins? Do they count?</p>
<p>No, majority of the time it is just your parents.</p>
<p>… what if your parent recently graduated? like, they returned to school and got their BA a few days ago?</p>
<p>I’m applying to HYP next year and I’m just curious to see if I can use it as a hook. We are low-income, and I don’t go to an AMAZING public school. . . so it’s not like I’m trying to use the FG hook while attending the nicest school in the area. I’m also a URM who works to help my family with money. What do you guys think? Should I ask each school their individual policy?</p>
<p>I wonder, my grandparents on one side attended a four-year college, but both my parents didn’t (well, my father did, but he never graduated…) </p>
<p>My sister is finishing her BA right now…</p>
<p>Would this count?</p>
<p>My mom took a few classes at the local community college but didnt graduate. My did just had a high school degree. Am I first generation college student?</p>
<p>It seems like I’m not the only one who has questions about this. Bump.</p>
<p>Check directly with the school you are interested in. It is up to them to define first gen and each does it differently.</p>
<p>Echoing what the others have said, I think you need to ask each college. Some actually include a definition on their applications. My father had earned 5 credits for work, so I was first-generation at some and not at others. You need to ask each college specifically.</p>
<p>If you have a sibling in college, it doesn’t count against you as “first generation”. Since you and your sibling are the SAME generation in the same immediate family, that’s not (shouldn’t be, again, every college defines their own process) a problem.</p>
<p>I agree with “it depends,” but I just want to say that the first generation hook will likely be secondary to your low-income URM hook (i.e. that hook is far more important)</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! Would I just call up the school’s office and ask? Also, how exactly do I use a URM, low-income, first generation hook? I don’t want to come off as too “complain-y,” etc.</p>
<p>You’re still first-generation - my mom attended two years of community college, too, in order to get a nursing certification. I think you’re first-generation if neither of your parents got a degree from a four-year.</p>
<p>…but your grandparents do count. You’re not first-generation if your grandparents went to college, you’re second-generation. It just skipped a generation. Most places do not count your aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Your siblings also don’t count, because you are still in the first generation in your immediate family to attend college. Community college generally does not count; they mean four-year institutions.</p>
<p>IMO, don’t ask the schools’ individual policies. If you define yourself as a FG student and you are planning to use it in an essay, just write it in the essay. I mean, it would be disingenuous to write it if one of your parents actually does have a four-year degree, but use common sense. For instance, if you went to college and then the following year your mother entered college, too, are you a FG? Yes, because you went FIRST.</p>
<p>If you are applying for a scholarship most scholarships have eligibility requirements, but if you’re just using it to outline your disadvantages, just write the essay and use your personal definition as long as it’s not too wacky. (You can justify being FG if your mom earned her BA while you were still in in high school; you can’t really justify it if she earned it before you were born, even if she was a non-traditional student).</p>
<p>What if my mom went to college for a few months in a foriegn country and my dad who was in the military slowly accumulated his hours and has only two associate degrees? Would I still be first generation? Plus my sister is going to college now (CC & online).</p>
<p>Lol alot of you guys are trying to make yourself look as bad as possible" “Im low income… my mom had 2 years of community college”</p>
<p>First generation is grandparents did not go to college IN AMERICA, nor parents. Dont think community college counts in it.</p>
<p>You MUST ask the college in which you are interested. Each college has different criteria.</p>
<p>It’s simple:</p>
<p>YOU fill out the CA; it asks what college (if any) each parent attended and what degree (if any) they earned. </p>
<p>THEY (each college) decides if you fall under THEIR definition of first gen.</p>