What qualifies as first generation and how significant is it in admissions?

[Anonymous]

I haven’t been able to get clear answers from searching online, so hope others can give some responses here. My wife and I have a freshman in high school, so we have not seriously begun to research colleges or the admissions process. I have an MBA and my wife never attended college. Would our daughter be considered a first generation college student even though I have an advanced degree? And if so, is this likely to make a minor difference, or moderate difference in the admissions process? I realize it probably is not a significant factor in admissions, and may not count for anything at all. FWIW daughter is a pretty solid student and involved in a number of extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been able to get clear answers from searching online, so hope others can give some responses here. My wife and I have a freshman in high school, so we have not seriously begun to research colleges or the admissions process. I have an MBA and my wife never attended college. Would our daughter be considered a first generation college student even though I have an advanced degree? And if so, is this likely to make a minor difference, or moderate difference in the admissions process? I realize it probably is not a significant factor in admissions, and may not count for anything at all. FWIW daughter is a pretty solid student and involved in a number of extracurriculars.

Of course not, you went to college so she cannot be first generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been able to get clear answers from searching online, so hope others can give some responses here. My wife and I have a freshman in high school, so we have not seriously begun to research colleges or the admissions process. I have an MBA and my wife never attended college. Would our daughter be considered a first generation college student even though I have an advanced degree? And if so, is this likely to make a minor difference, or moderate difference in the admissions process? I realize it probably is not a significant factor in admissions, and may not count for anything at all. FWIW daughter is a pretty solid student and involved in a number of extracurriculars.

Of course not, you went to college so she cannot be first generation.

Disagree. First search result I found says :

Being a first-gen student means that your parent(s) did not complete a 4-year college or university degree, regardless of other family member's level of education. Older siblings and family members who attended college may be a great resource as you navigate your college journey!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been able to get clear answers from searching online, so hope others can give some responses here. My wife and I have a freshman in high school, so we have not seriously begun to research colleges or the admissions process. I have an MBA and my wife never attended college. Would our daughter be considered a first generation college student even though I have an advanced degree? And if so, is this likely to make a minor difference, or moderate difference in the admissions process? I realize it probably is not a significant factor in admissions, and may not count for anything at all. FWIW daughter is a pretty solid student and involved in a number of extracurriculars.

Of course not, you went to college so she cannot be first generation.

Disagree. First search result I found says :

Being a first-gen student means that your parent(s) did not complete a 4-year college or university degree, regardless of other family member's level of education. Older siblings and family members who attended college may be a great resource as you navigate your college journey!

False. Both parents did not graduate. Being a first-gen student means that your parent(s) did not complete a 4-year college or university degree, regardless of other family member's level of education. Older siblings and family members who attended college may be a great resource as you navigate your college journey!

Are You A First-generation Student?https://firstgen.naspa.org › why-first-gen › students › are-...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been able to get clear answers from searching online, so hope others can give some responses here. My wife and I have a freshman in high school, so we have not seriously begun to research colleges or the admissions process. I have an MBA and my wife never attended college. Would our daughter be considered a first generation college student even though I have an advanced degree? And if so, is this likely to make a minor difference, or moderate difference in the admissions process? I realize it probably is not a significant factor in admissions, and may not count for anything at all. FWIW daughter is a pretty solid student and involved in a number of extracurriculars.

Of course not, you went to college so she cannot be first generation.

Disagree. First search result I found says :

Being a first-gen student means that your parent(s) did not complete a 4-year college or university degree, regardless of other family member's level of education. Older siblings and family members who attended college may be a great resource as you navigate your college journey!

Huh? This quote backs up the PP. She is not and would not be considered first gen.

[Anonymous]

For Harvard: We consider you a first-generation college student —or “first-gen” for short— if you will be in the first generation of your immediate family to graduate from a four-year college or the equivalent.

It may depend on the school.

[Anonymous]

I was just looking at mu kid’s future high school website and it has a great college related section, with a subsection on low income/first gen. For our school it is if the parent(s) did not attend an accredited school IN THE US which is a great cop out for us.
I think if you divorce and give your wife full custody you may be able to wing it. But even then I am not sure.

[Anonymous]

And yes this is a big hook, second only to URM. Low income is number three

[Anonymous]

here is i think what is being asked

one parent went to college

one parent didn’t

is it considered first generation if only one parent attended college

i think it’s clear that it’s not, but i’ve heard crazier things (and crazier justifications) on this board!

[Anonymous]

It's singular and plural, because if there is only one parent, it would not be on the student to *prove* anything about an absentee parent. But if the student has a parent with a college degree, the student is not first gen.

Surely there are more complications involving non-custodial parents but OP doesn't need to explore that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:here is i think what is being asked

one parent went to college

one parent didn’t

is it considered first generation if only one parent attended college

i think it’s clear that it’s not, but i’ve heard crazier things (and crazier justifications) on this board!

Not only did one parent go to college, he has a masters degree. Op, your question is preposterous.

[Anonymous]

This is some BS. My parents grew up in a rural town and went to a 200th ranked University think like Univ of New Mexico. Their college and career advice was far less useful than a high school educated SAHM reading DCUM, trust me.

Completely different world, having grown up in an urban area and having friends parents with professional careers. It’s not just a checkbox (degree).

[Anonymous]

I am not sure if there is a box to check on any app if you are first gen. If yes, I wouldn’t check it, but would slip something into her essay about the mom bearing the brunt of parenting and not having the opportunity to go to college. And let the chips fall where they may.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the information and advice, all.

[Anonymous]

I'm a professor who works with first-generation students. This kid would not be considered a first-generation college student.