UCLA Admission
admission.ucla.edu › apply › first-generation-applicants
First-Generation Applicants | UCLA Undergraduate Admission
Your first stop for planning to attend UCLA should be First To Go, a resource office that supports future first-gen Bruins. A “first-generation college student” is defined as a student whose parent/guardian has not received a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.
University of California
universityofcalifornia.edu › about-uc › information-center › first-generation-college-students
First-generation college students | University of California
June 3, 2025 - Systemwide data on first-generation ... information. First-generation college student is defined as a student where neither parent nor guardian have earned a four-year degree....
How do you know that you are being considered as a first generation student on UC application?
The UC system defines a first-generation student as anyone whose parents did not receive a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. If you provided enough information on the application, the readers can determine your status. There is no checkbox to mark. More on reddit.com
2
2
December 13, 2025"First Generation" in UC Applications...
The University of California (UC) defines a first-generation student as someone whose parents did not receive a bachelor's degree or equivalent. However, individual schools may have their own definitions so some UC’s may consider you First Generation and some will not. I would not bother making the correction since you do fill out your Parent’s education level on the UC application and each will UC will use that information to determine if you are First Generation or not. More on reddit.com
10
9
May 23, 2024Does being first gen provide a significant boost to an application?
if Harvard for example has 15% first generation students, what percent of the applicants are first ten in the first place? Only Harvard knows, and they're not telling. But let's be real. The acceptance rate last year was 3.4%. If the first gen acceptance rate was 4.4% or 5.4%, it's still incredibly low IMO, it can be a feather on the scale for an excellent applicant, but won't move the needle for someone who is not already a superior candidate More on reddit.com
8
20
September 24, 2023What are the benefits of being a first-gen?
Try to imagine a college AO's perspective. A student who's parents never went to college doesn't have the same motivation and role models that a student who's parents did go to college. To not have the same opportunity and still have great academic achievement and have the desire to attend college shows very strong determination. More on reddit.com
12
5
December 24, 2021Reddit
reddit.com › r/applyingtocollege › "first generation" in uc applications...
r/ApplyingToCollege on Reddit: "First Generation" in UC Applications...
May 23, 2024 -
Hello everyone! My parents both went to University in a foreign country, and both received degrees. However, the UC System says First Generation includes students whose parents completed degrees in foreign countries. Because your parents have to receive a degree from a United States University not to be a First Gen... I didn't know this until yesterday, and on both of my applications to UC Berkeley and UCLA, I checked "No" for First Generation. I am currently on the waiting list for both universities. I feel like this might be worthy of consideration to contact both admissions committees... Should I call the offices first thing tomorrow, or should I honestly just let the waiting list process ride, and if I don't get in, appeal their decision? Let me know – any help would be much appreciated!
Top answer 1 of 3
13
The University of California (UC) defines a first-generation student as someone whose parents did not receive a bachelor's degree or equivalent. However, individual schools may have their own definitions so some UC’s may consider you First Generation and some will not. I would not bother making the correction since you do fill out your Parent’s education level on the UC application and each will UC will use that information to determine if you are First Generation or not.
2 of 3
8
I suspect that a lot of school take a lenient approach towards the definition of first generation so that they have better looking statistics on the "percentage" of first generation students. While the stereotype of first generation are kids from low social economic background, the reality is that many of their parents went to Oxbridge, IIT, Tsinghua or Seoul National.
University of California
universityofcalifornia.edu › press-room › uc-admission-first-year-california-students-tops-100000-new-record
UC admission of first-year California students tops 100,000, a new record | University of California
July 28, 2025 - Overall, the University accepted 149,368 first-year students — including both California residents and nonresidents — from a pool of 205,348 applicants. This is an increase of 12,370 students (9 percent) from last year when 136,998 students ...
University of California
universityofcalifornia.edu › press-room › uc-admits-record-number-california-students
UC admits record number of California students | University of California
1 month ago - The University of California announced today (July 29) a record year for California admissions, offering 102,031 California first-year students admission for fall 2026, the highest number in University history.
University of California
universityofcalifornia.edu › press-room › uc-kicks-systemwide-effort-support-first-generation-students-new-report-website
UC kicks off systemwide effort to support first-generation students with new report, website | University of California
November 8, 2021 - Eighty-one percent of UC first-generation students graduate within six years, a significantly higher rate than the national six-year graduation rate for all undergraduates at public institutions (about 60 percent), and a counterpoint to troubling ...
University of California, Berkeley
admissions.berkeley.edu › home › academics › first generation resources
First Generation Resources - Office of Undergraduate Admissions
October 19, 2018 - Roughly 26 percent of UC Berkeley first-year students are first-generation college students, and we work hard to ensure that you have the support and resources to thrive as a scholar, as a leader, and as a vital member of the UC Berkeley campus ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applyingtocollege › how do you know that you are being considered as a first generation student on uc application?
r/ApplyingToCollege on Reddit: How do you know that you are being considered as a first generation student on UC application?
December 13, 2025 -
I'm raised from a single parent who only has a 2-year degree and I put limited information for my other parent but I don't know if I am going to be considered as a first generation student. It doesn't say explicitly anywhere on the application that I am put into this category. The only places where this is explicit is in the scholarship programs section but I don't know if admission officers see that part and will take that info into consideration. If I am not being considered as one, should I email them this info?
Top answer 1 of 2
1
The UC system defines a first-generation student as anyone whose parents did not receive a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. If you provided enough information on the application, the readers can determine your status. There is no checkbox to mark.
2 of 2
1
ideally you would have written about this in one of your essays.
Daily Bruin
dailybruin.com › 2026 › 07 › 29 › uc-admits-record-number-of-california-residents-as-first-year-students-for-2026-27-cycle
UC admits record number of California residents as first-year students for 2026-27 cycle - Daily Bruin
1 month ago - The UC admitted a total of 42,277 first-generation students from California for this year’s cycle, comprising 41% of the UC’s first-year admits. “This year’s data show once again that a significant number of first-generation and low-income ...
LAist
laist.com › news › education › who-is-a-first-generation-college-student-california-colleges-universities-cant-agree
Who Is A First-Generation College Student? California Colleges, Universities Can’t Agree | LAist
July 12, 2023 - There’s no specific consequence for an individual college or university that defies the definition of its state leaders. However, the definition of first-generation can affect admissions and the amount of funding that a school receives or allocates for these students. While the community college system admits all students, the Cal State and UC systems are more selective. Along with grades, admissions staff conduct a holistic review of each applicant, which in the case of nearly every one of California’s selective public universities includes explicit consideration of the education level of the student’s parents or guardians.
University of California
universityofcalifornia.edu › about-uc › information-center › freshman-fall-admissions-summary
Freshman fall admissions summary | University of California
January 23, 2026 - Domestic – Applicants who are ... of the US for admission purposes. First Generation – A student with neither parent having a four-year college degree....
Los Angeles Times
latimes.com › california › story › 2026-07-29 › uc-fall-2026-admissions-rates-berkeley-ucla
UC fall 2026 admissions data: record Californians, Berkeley now most selective - Los Angeles Times
1 month ago - The share of admitted students who would be the first in their families to attend college declined by 1 point to 41%. Overall, UC admitted 42,277 first-generation Californians. The 78% acceptance rate reflects the percentage of California residents ...
University of California
ucop.edu › institutional-research-academic-planning › _files › UC-first-gen-students.pdf pdf
UC and first-generation students, a formula for economic ...
Ten-years after enrolling at UC, 87 percent of first- generation students are still living in California.
University of California
universityofcalifornia.edu › about-uc › information-center › transfer-fall-admissions-summary
Transfer fall admissions summary | University of California
February 10, 2026 - Domestic – Applicants who are ... of the U.S. for admission purposes. First Generation – A student with neither parent having a four-year college degree....
University of California
admission.universityofcalifornia.edu › admission-requirements › first-year-requirements
First-year requirements | UC Admissions
You rank in the top 9 percent of California high school students, according to our updated Statewide Index, or · You rank in the top 9 percent of your graduating class at a participating high school. We refer to this as "Eligible in the Local Context" (ELC). You're a first-year (or freshman) applicant if you're currently in high school, OR you’ve graduated from high school, but haven’t yet enrolled in a regular session (fall, winter, spring) at a college or university.
CalMatters
calmatters.org › education › higher-education › 2023 › 07 › first-generation-college-students-2
Who is a first-generation college student? California colleges, universities can’t agree.
July 11, 2023 - There’s no specific consequence for an individual college or university that defies the definition of its state leaders. However, the definition of first generation can affect admissions and the amount of funding that a school receives or allocates for these students. While the community college system admits all students, the Cal State and UC systems are more selective. Along with grades, admissions staff conduct a holistic review of each applicant, which in the case of nearly every one of California’s selective public universities includes explicit consideration of the education level of the student’s parents or guardians.
Universityofcalifornia
accountability.universityofcalifornia.edu › 2019 › chapters › chapter-1.html
University of California | 1: Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment
The University enrolled 3,000 ... 14,000. ... UC’s entering first-generation students are more likely to be from an underrepresented group (URG), to enter as transfer students, and/or to be Pell Grant recipients....
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › collegeadmissionscorner › posts › 1405114133690145
Since UCLA considers first-generation students those ...
Popular groups · Find communities for you · Over 1 billion people across the globe are using Facebook Groups to explore their favorite topics · Log in · Categories · Science & tech · Travel · Animals · Sports & fitness · Entertainment
San Francisco Chronicle
sfchronicle.com › college-admissions › article › university-of-california-admissions-20790304.php
UC admits more California freshmen than ever — but fewer at top campuses
July 28, 2025 - Among California admits, 41.8% reported low family incomes, up from 40.6% last year. While the proportion of first-generation college students dipped slightly to 42.4%, the actual number rose by more than 2,300.
UCLA Admission
admission.ucla.edu › apply › first-year
First-Year Applicants | UCLA Undergraduate Admission
You may apply for admission as a first-year if you meet the following criteria: You’re currently in high school. Or, you’ve already graduated from high school, but haven’t yet enrolled in a regular session at a college or university. To begin the application process, use the University of California’s online application (UC Application).