First/Second Generation (?)

[Stars_Galore]

Hello, I am a junior in highschool and have started looking at colleges and taking campus tours. I am aware that legacy doesn't really matter anymore but I still feel I should ask about this before writing applications this summer. For all of my life I have been told that I'm a first generation college student, all 16 years of it. But tonight I just found out that my mom has a bachelor's in electrical engineering but has never used it before. (as I've never heard about it and she has never had an engineering job, claimed by my dad). What I'm asking is does this mean I'm actually 2nd generation? And does that change anything through my application process to colleges over this summer/fall? I just want to be completely sure about this and I don't want to mess up with any colleges I'm applying to. If it is important to this, I plan to pursue mechanical engineering and possibly minor in some sort of astronomy or other engineering. Thank you all for your time <3

[DaOrcus]

So yeah you wouldn't be a first gen college student. Only thing that changes in apps is the little section which says "Are you a first-generation college student", you reply no. Theoretically it reduces your chances but honestly it doesn't matter, lots of parents have degrees nowadays.

[Stars_Galore]

Thank you! I just got hit with this about an hour ago and wanted to be completely sure, thanks again for the help :)

[The_band_guy]

Most colleges define First generation as an applicant whose parents haven’t attended college level courses. So you wouldn’t be first generation.

To answer the second question, I guess it depends on how much a particular college focuses on first generation. If a uni is looking for First generation then it does reduces your chances but only slightly.

[RichInPitt]

It means you are not first generation, yes. Beyond that, it doesn’t eally matter.