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Is being a first-gen student a plus when applying to grad school, REUs?

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 5:36 pm
by raremeatsandcheeses
Hi, I am a domestic Asian/White male, and in my first year of undergrad.

I'm here to ask: when applying to REUs / grad school, is it advantageous to make it known that I am a first-gen* college student/high school graduate?

*What I mean by first-gen is a little complicated. I was raised primarily by my mother, for both work reasons and personal reasons that have never been fully disclosed to me. My father has a bachelors degree. But, on my mother's side, I am a first-gen high school graduate and first-gen college student. Because I consider myself as 'raised by my mother,' I am wondering if it is worth mentioning this (details included) to REU programs and in my graduate schools applications, if prompted.

Re: Is being a first-gen student a plus when applying to grad school, REUs?

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 12:40 am
by cauchysequence
If you feel like it is a necessary component of who you are as a person today, I personally think it is a valuable piece of information to discuss. Especially considering that at some REU programs strongly emphasize research opportunities for people who might not have many opportunities, it could help you in some ways. But of course, if there isn't a positive way to say it, it might be more helpful to be left unsaid.