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first generation to go to university

samwise

where should u put that u r first generation on ur ucas form

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Reply 1

fairygirl21

your meant to? :confused:

Don't!

I don't think you have to.

Reply 4

Manifest

samwise

where should u put that u r first generation on ur ucas form

Joker! Just tell them if you are asked to come for an interview...

Reply 5

Knogle

Why would you want to especially mention that?

Reply 6

Elles

if you think it's relevant to contextualise your background/achievements - perhaps mention it to your referee?

think it would sound better coming from them than taking up space in your PS or anything. :smile:

Reply 7

shyopstv

Agree with Elles. If you put it in your app it will make you like you are trying to make excuses for your lack of ability (pretty harsh way of saying it - i'm not saying that you actually do lack ability) plus you will not be the only one who is 1st generation.

Reply 8

Juno

If you want to coz you get a grant for saying so, then it goes on your loan application form later.

Reply 9

leannemarie

Mine was put in my reference because I come from a £10 000 a year school which makes unis think that everyone has money and everyone goes to university. They put that I don't pay the fees and that none of my family has ever gone to uni (apart from my mum when she was 35, which apparently doesn't count)

Reply 10

AlbelNox

?!?!?! to the person who answered "don't!", why not?! Crap crap crap, ok, i mentioned mine in my cover letter which i sent with my new personal statement, when i changed my course a few days after getting my welcome letter. I changed from law to internet computing, and i put that my main reason for originall applying for law was pressure from my parents: their main reasoning is that, seeing as neither of them went to uni but did ok regardless, they think it's pointless unless you either do law or medicine. I therefore thought it fit to mention that i'm the first person to go to uni in my family, and that my parents didn't truly understand the benefits of a degree (well until they realised how unhappy i was with my choice anyway). Should i really not have mentioned this??!?!
Furthermore, i also mentioned that i really need their support on this because i'm not entitled to any grants or anything, as i'm from a high income family. Should i not have mentioned my income either?!?!?! damn damn damn. Urgh please someone tell me if i've really c***ed this up :frown:

Reply 11

leona

I just think it sounds a bit desperate, and not really appropriate in a personal statement. It could go in your reference I suppose if your teacher felt it necessary.

AlbelNox, your situation is different, I think you have a valid reason for telling uni's about the whole parents/pressure thing, but for most people, I think it sounds wrong.

Reply 12

AlbelNox

Ahh, ok thank you, i thought you meant there was some kind of unspoken law that you don't touch those subjects cause it sounds like you're trying to advantage yourself or something lol. *panic over*
ps sorry if i sounded aggressive!

Reply 13

Fluffy

samwise

where should u put that u r first generation on ur ucas form

I don't see why. It's a waste of space, space you could use to actually sell yourself!

Fluffy (first generation unviersity-er!)
xxx

Reply 14

Renza

I'm sure there was a part in the form that asked you if any of your parents had been to university.

I'm a first generation-er too...

Reply 15

N9ne

Renza

I'm sure there was a part in the form that asked you if any of your parents had been to university.

I'm a first generation-er too...

Not in the UCAS form there wasn't, as far as I know.

I'm sort of a first generation university-goer too, but so are many people! I saw it irrelevant and excluded it, in fact, I never even thought about it, nor considered adding it.

Reply 16

Iscariot

samwise

where should u put that u r first generation on ur ucas form

I don't know, but maybe right next to where you mention you can't type in proper English.

Reply 17

Renza

I'm adamant there was because I remember a drop-down menu saying 'Yes' and 'No'. I was in school at the time and we had a big discussion to whether it was fair that it should be added in the form.

Reply 18

Time To Dance...

Yep, I agree with you. It's on the page entitled something like "about you"; I'm sure it asks you if either of your parents have gone to uni, as well as what the occupation of the parent that earns the most is. (how is this relevant to me applying to uni?!) Also, off topic, but why do you need to fill in the page about employment?

Reply 19

Elles

epidode4

(how is this relevant to me applying to uni?!)

it's relevant to UCAS statistics about demographics applying & going to university.

did it have the disclaimer that the info would NOT be disclosed to unis but just used for statistical purposes..? pretty sure it did back in my day..