What is the difference between first generation and second generation college students?
Asked by: Roxanne Schultz | Last update: December 15, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (10 votes)
In this study, we will use it to describe a college or university student from a family where no parent or guardian has earned a baccalaureate degree (Choy, 2001). The term “second-generation student” is used to refer to students whose parents or guardians earned at least one baccalaureate degree.
What is the difference between 1st generation and 2nd generation?
A person who is a first-generation immigrant is defined as one who is born outside of the United States. 1.5-generation immigrants are individuals who came to the United States as children. Second-generation immigrants are born in the United States but have parents who are born abroad.
What qualifies as a first generation college student?
A “first-generation college student” is defined as a student whose parent/guardian has not received a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree. You can explore scholarship resources available to first-generation students as well as undocumented or DACA students.
What is a 2nd generation college student?
Second-generation students are those whose parent or guardian attended a college or university and earned at least one baccalaureate degree (Pike & Kuh, 2005).
Why is it harder for first generation college students?
Lack of Familiarity, Support, & Guidance Usually, a first-generation student cannot rely on family support--not because the family doesn't support education, but because the family does not understand the importance or the process of postsecondary paths.
Are YOU First-Generation???
What is the disadvantage of a first generation student?
Lack of Self-esteem, College Adjustment, and Family Support
First-generation students may feel uncomfortable in the collegiate atmosphere. They may come from a different cultural background or SES and have different levels of college preparation than their college-going peers.
Which generation goes to college the most?
Highly educated
Generation Z students are on track to become the most educated generation. They have higher high school graduation rates and lower dropout rates than those who came before. In 2018, 57% of 18 to 21-year olds were in college, compared with 52% of Millennials, and 43% of Gen Xers at similar ages.
Do siblings count as first generation college students?
The term first-generation refers to students who are the first in their families to attend college. More specifically, it means that a student's parents have not earned a bachelor's degree. Students who have siblings in college but whose parents did not earn a bachelor's degree are considered first-generation.
How do I know if I am a first generation college student?
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!
What is the current college age generation called?
Generation Z (also known as Gen Z or Zoomers) refers to many of today's college students, born between 1997 and 2012.
How much money can you get for being a first generation college student?
Cal Grant A
Every student's award amount may vary by type of college — for 2022-2023, Cal Grants are up to $12,570 at a University of California campus, up to $5,742 at a California State University campus, and up to $9,220 at independent colleges.
Am I first generation if my parents are immigrants?
If your parent(s) immigrated here from another country, but you were born in the United States, you are considered a first-generation (first-gen) adult child of immigrants. Health and Healing Therapy serves clients in Illinois and Iowa only.
How do colleges verify first generation?
How do colleges know if you are first-generation? It's indicated on The Common Application under parents' education. Whether your parents attended college in the United States or elsewhere in the world, The Common Application asks applicants to include this information — and you must be truthful.
Am I 1st generation or 2nd generation?
The first generation refers to those who are foreign born. The second generation refers to those with at least one foreign-born parent. The third-and-higher generation includes those with two U.S. native parents.
Is girls generation 1st or 2nd gen?
Generation Two
Many more idol groups debuted, such as Big Bang, Girls Generation (SNSD), Shinee, 2NE1, Wonder Girls, and Super Junior. The choreography of each generation became more intricate over time.
Who is considered 2nd generation?
Second-generation immigrants in the United States are individuals born and raised in the United States who have at least one foreign-born parent.
Am I first generation if my grandma went to college?
Your grandparents, aunts/uncles and siblings could also have degrees, and you would still qualify as first generation. Some first-generation students come from low-income households.
Why do colleges want first generation students?
For years, California schools have used first-generation college status as a means to boost campus diversity, especially after voters banned affirmative action in 1996. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 29 decision to end race-conscious admissions nationwide, the term is top of mind.
Do colleges verify parents' education?
Colleges do indeed take into account certain aspects of your parents' backgrounds during the admissions process. This information is typically collected through the Common Application, where you may be asked to provide details on your parents' educational backgrounds and occupations.
What do first generation college students struggle with?
Emotional and psychological struggles are common among first-generation college students, with imposter syndrome and low self-esteem being prevalent challenges. Imposter syndrome is the feeling of not belonging or not being as capable as their peers, which can lead to self-doubt and anxiety.
Are you a first generation college student if your cousin went to college?
Being a first-generation college student means that you are the first person in your immediate family to attend college–ie: neither of your parents have a college degree.
Do siblings count for college legacy?
Some institutions, such as Stanford and UNC, only consider "primary legacy" status—where one or both applicant's parents are alumni. Yet, most schools will also grant favor to "secondary legacies" who claim a grandparent, sibling, or other non-parental familial affiliation to the school.
Which generation is the richest?
Baby boomers have the highest net worth, averaging $1.6 million per household. Baby boomers have the highest household net worth of any US generation.
What generation is most educated?
According to our research, millennials are the most educated generation in American history. Approximately 38 percent of millennials have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 32 percent of Generation X and 15 percent of baby boomers when they were the same age.
Why is Gen Z not going to college?
A third of Gen Zers and millennials said they chose to forgo higher education, a 2024 Deloitte survey found, according to Business Insider. Their primary reasons were financial barriers, family or personal circumstances, or plans for careers that don't require college degrees.