<p>My mom didn't go to college at all, but my dad attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln for about a year in a half in the 1970s. He dropped out and never got a degree, not even an AA. So neither of my parents have college degrees. Would I count as a first generation college student or not? Does first generation refer to being the first to get an actual degree or first to actually attend college, regardless of how long or if a degree was even earned?</p>
<p>The definition varies, some colleges consider you 1st gen if neither parent has gotten a college degree, while at other colleges it’s if they never attended school past HS. That’s why college apps don’t ask, “Are you first gen to college?”, rather they ask if your parents went to college, where, when and if they earned a degree. With this information they determine if you fit their definition of first gen.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information, entomom. Guess I will find out if it ends up benefitting me or not.</p>