Parents never went to college

[VitaminVater]

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Question,
my parents too were born and educated in my home country but they earned college degrees there, however they were not able to use the degree when they came to the US with me so worked jobs completely unrelated to it(mostly minimum wage/under the table), would that count as being first gen college/grad student? Also, my sister started community college a year or two before me(she's older), so is it based on the generation or the first kid in the family to go to college?

 

[rubisco88]

I think if you write about it and explain it in an essay it might help you, but I don't think that's technically enough to check that box off on the application that says first generation. You will also report your parents income so that will also help give adcom a good idea where you fall socioeconomically. I can think of too many orms who's parents went to school abroad but in china, India etc and are docs, engineers, etc. That would mess the whole system up if that counts.

 

[LizzyM]

Question,
my parents too were born and educated in my home country but they earned college degrees there, however they were not able to use the degree when they came to the US with me so worked jobs completely unrelated to it(mostly minimum wage/under the table), would that count as being first gen college/grad student? Also, my sister started community college a year or two before me(she's older), so is it based on the generation or the first kid in the family to go to college?

Your parents are educated so if you answer the optional questions about parents education, you will indicate that they completed college, graduate or professional school (whichever applies as highest degree). AMCAS uses this as a variable in describing applicants and matriculants and has, in the past, used parents' educational attainment as a proxy for family socioeconomic status as a predictor of medical school success, specialty choice, etc. This was before they asked family income of all applicants (optional question). Of course, the maximum family income is $75,000 which IMHO is too low to be really meaningful as it lumps the $75,000/year in with the $750,000 per year.

 

[einstein1990]

I'm a first generation college student. I don't look at it like a disadvantage or advantage, really. I do, however, think that it greatly impacted what kind of person I am and have grown to be. This is different for everyone, though.

I am white and middle class. I don't consider myself disadvantaged in any way. But, I think being a first gen has given me a unique perspective. My parents are extremely supportive and have always encouraged me to find what I love and do it. But, they never put ANY pressure on me to excel academically or pursue any education past high school. They didn't care whether I got an A or a C. They worked hard to give me the opportunity to do so (to attend college) - IF I wanted. I had no external pressures put on me whatsoever, from ANYONE. I had no examples to follow or any standards set. I had to set my own examples and be my own leader. I got where I am by hard work and determination alone. I had no connections. I never knew what to expect. I am my own motivator, driven my natural curiosity and tenacity. For example, no one told me how to find doctors to shadow. My peers and friends (most of them - this is a generalization) had some kind of connection or networking they could utilize. No one in my family at all is a physician or even works in health care. I had to email heads of departments, heads of the residency programs, etc. (basically whoever I thought could help set me up with someone to shadow) persistently to find doctors to shadow. I think all of that's pretty unique!

Also, I've had people judge me based on (the lack of) my parents education. I kind of have acquired a sensitization towards anyone treated or viewed as 'different' for whatever reason - I can relate to them because I've felt similarly, albeit on a small scale.

I don't know if being a first gen gives you an advantage or disadvantage in and of itself. But how being a first gen has affected you - that's another story 🙂

 

[ChartaBona]

My parents declared bankruptcy this year, (but they probably still make too much money for me to qualify for need-based aid.) My older brother is in a halfway house, so his 4 year old son lives with us, instead.

My older sister and I are 1st generation college graduates. She is an elementary school teacher, and I will be the first in my extended family to attend medical school. I do have an older cousin that went to law school, but either he dropped out or just never took the Bar.

So far, undergrad has been the only place in my life where where I felt like a I "fit in." Some families just don't understand what we go through to become doctors.

 

[JFK90787]

I had no external pressures put on me whatsoever, from ANYONE. I had no examples to follow or any standards set. I had to set my own examples and be my own leader.

Yeah, that too. I sort of felt like I grew up in a vacuum - my mother wants me to be successful, but she has no idea how to give me advice or direction in how to go about doing it. Kids in this position need to learn how to navigate the world by themselves from a young age, something that can be very difficult to overcome. It's not as easy as saying "just work hard!!" like many idealists seem to think.

I am just eternally grateful that I grew up in the age of the internet. Without SDN to read about others' experiences and advice, there is no way I would be in a competitive position to get accepted to medical school.

Dammit, this thread is making me wish I talked more about this in my diversity essay -_-

 

[einstein1990]

Yeah, that too. I sort of felt like I grew up in a vacuum - my mother wants me to be successful, but she has no idea how to give me advice or direction in how to go about doing it. Kids in this position need to learn how to navigate the world by themselves from a young age, something that can be very difficult to overcome. It's not as easy as saying "just work hard!!" like many idealists seem to think.

I am just eternally grateful that I grew up in the age of the internet. Without SDN to read about others' experiences and advice, there is no way I would be in a competitive position to get accepted to medical school.

Dammit, this thread is making me wish I talked more about this in my diversity essay -_-

Agreed! My parents are the same way. Super motivating and supportive, yet they don't comprehend or understand in the slightest much of what I do or want to do. I'm also an only child so I had no older siblings to follow or anything. Again, I am NOT disadvantaged, but it's definitely a different route we have to take to get where we want.

 

[ChartaBona]

Yeah, that too. I sort of felt like I grew up in a vacuum - my mother wants me to be successful, but she has no idea how to give me advice or direction in how to go about doing it. Kids in this position need to learn how to navigate the world by themselves from a young age, something that can be very difficult to overcome. It's not as easy as saying "just work hard!!" like many idealists seem to think.

I am just eternally grateful that I grew up in the age of the internet. Without SDN to read about others' experiences and advice, there is no way I would be in a competitive position to get accepted to medical school.

Dammit, this thread is making me wish I talked more about this in my diversity essay -_-

This is why I became a gold donor. I would not have gotten accepted to medical school without this website. When I was in high school, I found out too late I was unable to apply to a number of colleges because I didn't take the SAT2's or w.e. they were called.

 

[JFK90787]

When I was in high school, I found out too late I was unable to apply to a number of colleges because I didn't take the SAT2's or w.e. they were called.

HAHA yes! I didn't even know what the SAT was until about a month before the test

 

[ChartaBona]

HAHA yes! I didn't even know what the SAT was until about a month before the test

My mom was just like: You're smart, you'll get into wherever you apply.

She was right though, I did get accepted to all two state schools I applied to

Edit: This was when I was applying to undergrad.

 

[einstein1990]

My mom was just like: You're smart, you'll get into wherever you apply.

She was right though, I did get accepted to all two state schools I applied to

I'm a reapplicant. Last year, my mom was all like "you'll totally get in!" and had no idea how competitive it was. Needless to say, I didn't. Pretty sure she felt like a huge jerk.

She then thought it important to educate herself on med school and the application process. I recently found out that she somehow stumbled onto SDN and is now a regular lurker on these very threads (hi mom!) ...... hahahah. I saw her on it and I was just like "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?" I couldn't help but laugh!

 

[pasiley]

Yeah, that too. I sort of felt like I grew up in a vacuum - my mother wants me to be successful, but she has no idea how to give me advice or direction in how to go about doing it. Kids in this position need to learn how to navigate the world by themselves from a young age, something that can be very difficult to overcome. It's not as easy as saying "just work hard!!" like many idealists seem to think.

I am just eternally grateful that I grew up in the age of the internet. Without SDN to read about others' experiences and advice, there is no way I would be in a competitive position to get accepted to medical school.

Dammit, this thread is making me wish I talked more about this in my diversity essay -_-

Don't you think that experience made who you are today? While it may be less of a disadvantage today compared to 20 years ago, it is a disadvantage in the med school application process. Despite that, I see that part of my past as a huge advantage in life in general because it made me an extremely independent person.

I see people who have their parents wait across the street during their interviews and parents who buy their kids MCAT study books because the kid doesn't have enough initiative to do it themselves. I knew people in college where their parents expected to see their grades every semester and judged how much money to send them based on grades. I have a friend who became a pharmacist and her mother is embarrassed to tell people what she does. Another friend's parents were embarrassed because she went to a state school. Now those people, I feel sorry for.

I like that my parents couldn't tell you my exact college major let alone know my GPA. I love my freedom from judgement or expectations that many other pre-meds lack.

 

[VitaminVater]

Your parents are educated so if you answer the optional questions about parents education, you will indicate that they completed college, graduate or professional school (whichever applies as highest degree). AMCAS uses this as a variable in describing applicants and matriculants and has, in the past, used parents' educational attainment as a proxy for family socioeconomic status as a predictor of medical school success, specialty choice, etc. This was before they asked family income of all applicants (optional question). Of course, the maximum family income is $75,000 which IMHO is too low to be really meaningful as it lumps the $75,000/year in with the $750,000 per year.

Wow, a response from LizzyM, I feel honored!
But seriously, thanks for answering that so clearly, I never knew what to put in applications when asked questions like 'what's the highest level of education for either parent' because I though it applied only to american schools since the title for each institution is different in my home country.
Another question if you don't mind, I've heard the AMCAS application has a section where to talk about any disadvantaged situation one may have been in. Is it appropriate to talk about living in a low income family(at or below poverty line), one or more members of my immediate family at one time not having legal residency status forbidding us from having access to many job opportunities, healthcare, aid etc..I'm not trying to write an invitation to my pity party but the reason I want to talk about it is because the situation my family and I have been since we immigrated to the US(and why we had to) has played a major role in my values, in how I treat others and why it's made me more of an independent person in the goals I seek(career/education wise, although my parents emotional support is another major driving force). I didn't want to make it the focus of my PS because I felt it better to focus on explaining why I chose the field of medicine.

 

[LizzyM]

Wow, a response from LizzyM, I feel honored!
But seriously, thanks for answering that so clearly, I never knew what to put in applications when asked questions like 'what's the highest level of education for either parent' because I though it applied only to american schools since the title for each institution is different in my home country.
Another question if you don't mind, I've heard the AMCAS application has a section where to talk about any disadvantaged situation one may have been in. Is it appropriate to talk about living in a low income family(at or below poverty line), one or more members of my immediate family at one time not having legal residency status forbidding us from having access to many job opportunities, healthcare, aid etc..I'm not trying to write an invitation to my pity party but the reason I want to talk about it is because the situation my family and I have been since we immigrated to the US(and why we had to) has played a major role in my values, in how I treat others and why it's made me more of an independent person in the goals I seek(career/education wise, although my parents emotional support is another major driving force). I didn't want to make it the focus of my PS because I felt it better to focus on explaining why I chose the field of medicine.

If you feel that you were at a disadvatage going into college (or delayed college coming out of HS because of your family situation), you can answer yes to the "disadvantaged" question and use the space provided to describe why you think that you were at a disadvantage compared to other college freshmen due to your family circumstances.

 

[Hotshy]

I think it's definitely appreciated by admissions committees. Source: talked about it in my personal statement and it came out during interviews at schools I was accepted to. Definitely a positive, I don't ever think it would be a negative on your application. I'm surprised by how many of classmates have parents with PhDs and other professional degrees. They are even more surprised when I tell them that I come from a family where education was never that big of a focus when they have been pushed and supported their entire lives to be successful academically. I don't feel significantly disadvantaged, however it certainly gives me a chip on my shoulder.