Are you a first-, second-, third-generation college grad? [Archive] - The Well-Trained Mind Forums (aka Hive Mind)

LizzyBee

03-20-2008, 03:01 AM

My Dad had an 8th grade education and my mom graduated from high school. I have a BS in Accounting from U of MD. My brother didn't go to college, 3 of my sisters went to a hospital school of nursing (but one of them finished her BS later), and my youngest sister has 2 Bachelors degrees, one in public health administration and one in education.

ETA: My Dad was born in 1918 in a rural area where an 8th grade education was pretty common, esp for boys. He was a smart guy, though, esp in math. My mom was always impressed with how he could keep track of how much they were spending while shopping. When the cashier would add up their purchases, my Dad's estimate was always very close. He was a reader, and I can still picture him sitting in his recliner with his reading glasses on and a book in his hands. Two of my favorite pictures are one of my Dad reading to my oldest daughter when she was 2, and another of my daughter at age 4 reading to my Dad when Alzheimer's had stolen his mind and he was no longer able to read even the simplest books.

On my dh's side, his parents did not go to college, but dh's paternal grandmother had at least a BS and maybe an MA degree. She taught in one-room schoolhouses when she wasn't marching for women's suffrage or prohibition. She was a pioneer in special education. Dh's aunt also has at least a Bachelor if not a Masters degree in Education. Dh went to college for one semester when he was young, then went back when he was about 35. It's taking forever, but he has a BA degree and is 2/3 of the way through an MDiv degree. None of his siblings went to college. One of his cousins did go to college and she also played cello for the St Louis symphony. Dh's other cousin, who is dh's age, just finished a degree, I think an Associates. I think dh's grandmother would be disappointed that all of her grandchildren didn't value education and finish college, since it was very important to her.

Colleen

03-20-2008, 05:18 AM

None of my grandparents went to college ~ but they lived in a time when college was a rarity. My father left high school without graduating and spent his "college" years serving in the Korean War. (He later earned his GED.) My mother was born and raised in Germany. She did some university study. None of my siblings went to a four-year college, though one of my brothers has an associate's degree.

Michelle in MO

03-20-2008, 05:55 AM

My mother really wanted to finish college, but she got married after two years of college. My dad was in the Air Force and then went to work for IBM. I have a B.A. from the University of Minnesota.

Jane in NC

03-20-2008, 06:32 AM

Neither of my parents attended college, but both graduated from trade schools after high school. My father was a welder and my mother was a bookkeeper. (Note that my father had a set of Britannica's Great Books of the Western World in the living room and read them all--he was a self educated factory worker.)

I have a BS and MS in Mathematics, the former from a private liberal arts college, the second from a public university with a good mathematics program.

My husband's father had a PhD, his mother a master's degree. All of the five children in that family have at least one college degree.

Kelli in TN

03-20-2008, 07:28 AM

Assuming that all goes as planned, my daughter will be the first woman in her maternal line to graduate from college.

She would have been the first person, but my dad beat her to it by going to college and getting his associates degree about 4-5 years ago. He is STILL going to college!! But since he takes a class at time, she will probably beat him to her bachelor's degree.

I was the first female in my direct line to graduate from high school.

We've come a long way, baby.

Nan in Mass

03-20-2008, 07:44 AM

We're a pretty educated bunch. Even my great grandmother went to finishing school. The women were educated, too, and often worked in whatever field they had studied. College goes back a few generations in my husband's family, too. It makes my family sound rich, but they weren't, just middle class. My oldest was the first in many generations not to go. Everyone is rather relieved he's decided to give it a try now, even though we expect he will probably go back to the plumbing afterwards. Nobody minded the plumbing part; in fact, they thought it was a great thing to do. They just didn't like that he wasn't getting stretched, openned, and broadened by the college experience. It is also assumed in my family that that is where you will first meet people whom you really like, and that you will make your life-long friends there. My grandmother went to Europe for the first time with her college room-mate when she was 70. They had written for all those years but not gotten back together again, and between them they hatched this plan to see the world a little before they died.
-Nan

Faithr

03-20-2008, 07:51 AM

Both my parents went to college, but their parents didn't go. Actually among my siblings I was the first to get a 4 year degree. The others got two year degrees went off to work or get married and then some finished up their degrees later in life.

None of my husband's parents or grandparents went to college, so he's first generation.

Phyllis in Canada

03-20-2008, 07:54 AM

I haven't graduated yet--still working on that. But both my parents are graduates and one grandmother had an MA. Neither of my dad's parents went to college, but they believed in it so strongly that all 7 of their children graduated.

KAR120C

03-20-2008, 08:03 AM

My parents were both English majors, and my mother has a masters in Library Science.

On my dad's side I know my grandfather was college educated (engineer) but I'm not sure about my grandmother. And I think there were no college degrees before that but I'm not absolutely sure. Of my two aunts, one has a college degree (math teacher - she might have a masters too...) and the other doesn't.

On my mother's side all of the women went to teachers' college ever since the stone age, and when I went to college my maternal grandmother was absolutely convinced that I was getting a teaching degree because as far as her experience told her, that was what one did at college. When she finally figured out that I wasn't, she was sure that any degree should come with a few education classes at least... "just so you can get your certification." Very practical, but I wasn't going for it. My mothers' brother went to art school and has a degree in industrial design.

All of my siblings and I have college degrees, and two of them have masters or higher. I dropped out of grad school just before I would have gotten a masters, but it wouldn't have done me any good even though it bugs my mom that I didn't get it. She'll be thrilled if I go back for another.

Christine

03-20-2008, 08:14 AM

Second generation on my side. (My father a physicist and mother a zoological geneticist -- and I stink at science.)

Took me 3 colleges, 4 moves and 6 years, and I now have a degree in something I wouldn't care to work in (accounting). :rolleyes:

DH got his college degree "through the military". I tell him it's "fake". ;) Essentially, he paid $600, and they counted his AA at a community college and his "life experience" and gave him a BA in general science. (Regents College gave him the degree, the military gave him the "life experience".)

Both of DH's parents have AAs. . .

*************
Here's a really interesting point though. My parents think of college as a great "educational institution of higher learning". . .My husband, myself and my kids see it as an annoying stepping stone to getting a good job. . .

Kim in Appalachia

03-20-2008, 08:14 AM

No one, in either my mother's or father's family, graduated from college. I have a BS for Business/Finance from Trenton State. (Now the College of NJ)

Kim

CleoQc

03-20-2008, 08:15 AM

*everyone* BUT my parents attended college in my family. My two grandfathers and one grandmother were college graduates. One grandfather was a doctor, the other one a lawyer. My grandmother was in litterary studies.
All my uncles attended college, most of them as lawyers or doctors, and at least half of my aunts in various degrees.
However, my own father left his family banging the door on his way out, and his dad helped by kicking him out even further (that fact was hidden from us for YEARS!). My father had a dream of becoming a pilot, and he did. Never attended college, even though he's got a very high IQ. He's a kick ass pilot though. Was stationned in Europe after the war, and in Africa.
My mom left her family at the age of 12. She went to live with her sister and helped raise her nephews and nieces.

As for my siblings and cousins, almost everyone is a college graduate. Out of 50 cousins, I can count 3 who didn't, one is my own brother who also became a pilot instead. We also have a high count of Masters and PhD...

Let's just say the homeschooling plan wasn't appreciated by most.

Kimber

03-20-2008, 08:19 AM

I was first in the family on my mother's side. But then I became second. My mother went to college and graduated while her grandkids cheered from the stands. She was in her 50's

Plaid Dad

03-20-2008, 08:20 AM

Second. My dw is a first-generation grad.

Jackie in AR

03-20-2008, 08:23 AM

Just curious. Neither my grandparents nor my parents attended college. For budgetary reasons, I attended (and graduated from) a state school.

What's your story?

I'm a first-generation college grad. One of my sisters graduated from college also. My other two siblings chose not to go the college route.

Jenny in Atl

03-20-2008, 08:25 AM

On my mother's side, I'm 4th gen (highly educated European Jews), on Dad's I'm 2nd (dirt poor Westerners).

Elm in NJ

03-20-2008, 08:31 AM

Both my parents did degrees in economics and banking in college and were managers of banks all their lives. I have a Masters and dh also has one.

Elmeryl

Carrie in NC

03-20-2008, 09:37 AM

My dad had a degree in engineering, the only one in his family to go to college. My mom and her mother never finished, but my great-grandmother on my mom's side had an English degree and taught high school, and my grandmother's brother was lawyer.

Both my husband's parents have college degrees, and I think his father's father did, too. My dh and both his siblings have advanced degrees: dh has an MS in Computer/Engineering (Duke), his sister has a PhD in History, and his brother has an MA in Theology. Both of their spouses have PhD's.

I have a BS in Biology (from University of Delaware), my brother has a BA in Special Education, and my sister has an MA in English. Both of their spouses have at least Bachelor's Degrees.

My oldest dd will graduate in May with a BA in History from NC State. My 19 yr old son is one year into a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking at the local community college. At this point he has no plans to attend a four-year college, and that's fine with us.

Unless they get scholarships, all our kids will go to state schools.

That's our story. :001_smile:

Linda in NM

03-20-2008, 09:38 AM

First generation; my father finished 8th grade; my mother graduated from highschool. After I graduated from college, she attended Williams' Banking Institute (two summers) in Massachusetts. She could have gone to Hunter College in NYC, but her aunt & uncle (with whom she lived) needed her to go to work during the war years.

Kelli in TN

03-20-2008, 09:41 AM

Just this very morning I got an email from Susanna Arrendondo from quickdegree4u.com. According to Susanna, I can get my degree with no classes and no tests. In fact, I can get my Phd through this stellar organization.

I am beyond excited. Do you think I should click on the link in the email now?

Or after I check my virus protection software?

:lol:

My mom will be so proud.

Jeannie in NJ

03-20-2008, 09:42 AM

both dh and I were the first in our families to go to college. I left just a few credits short of my Masters and dh has his pHD and is now a college professor.

Krista in LA

03-20-2008, 10:10 AM

His parents were farmers and didn't see the need for it. He decided not to farm and got a job. After several years he started college classes in the evenings while working. He graduated high school in 1959 and graduated college in 1978. It was really cool going to his college graduation. My mom has an associates degree. I have have 3 older siblings, but I was the first one to get a college degree. My younger db went into the Army after high school, but did eventually go to college and then grad school to become a Physician's Assistant.

My dh was the first in his family to go to college.

strider

03-20-2008, 10:13 AM

I also went to a state school both because it was far less expensive and because I had a really good scholarship there. It was a great experience, and I cherish secret hopes of one of my kids wanting to be there.

Tokyomarie

03-20-2008, 10:17 AM

Just curious. Neither my grandparents nor my parents attended college. For budgetary reasons, I attended (and graduated from) a state school.

What's your story?

I don't know if there are any college grads before my grandparents. My two grandfathers got degrees; one was an industrial engineer, the other didn't get his degree in business until he was in his 50s. The grandfather who got his degree later was definitely a self-educated man prior to that. Mom said he was always reading.

My dad has a bachelor's and master's in business that he worked on until I was about 8yo (I'm the oldest child). My mother nearly finished a degree in education then quit after they were married. She went back and finished her BA when she was in her 50s, just like her dad.

I, my siblings, and my husband all have at least bachelor's degrees. There are several master's degrees among us as well. I got my degree in PT back when it was an entry level bachelor's program. PT is now an entry level doctorate. I've considered doing a transitional doctorate but in the last couple of years I'm beginning to come to terms with the idea that I may never work in the field again.

Jane in NC

03-20-2008, 10:25 AM

Beth in Central TX

03-20-2008, 10:32 AM

I'm a first generation college graduate only because I received a 4-year scholarship which covered all of my expenses. DH is a second generation college graduate; his mom planned for him to go.

Jenny in Florida

03-20-2008, 10:43 AM

Neither my husband nor any of his antecedents (again, as far as I know) have college degrees. One of my brothers-in-law is slowly working toward a degree of some kind, but I have no idea when or if he will finish. He's in the Navy and is taking classes here and there as he can.

I went through three schools before finally graduating: community college, a small private college and then a state university. I got very little financial assistance from my family and still have student loans hanging over my head. I tried going back for my M.A., but just couldn't juggle it and working full time and my other responsibilities. I may still go back to school once I become obsolete as a homeschooler.

So, our kids will be the first college grads on their father's side of the family. (Wow, you know I never thought of it in those terms.) The will be the third generation on my side.

My daughter is in her freshman year at a small liberal arts college and plans to stay there to complete her degree. After that, she will likely head on to graduate school somewhere with a more prestigious "brand name."

And, just for the record, we are working hard to avoid having her take on any significant debt, at least for the bachelor's degree.

My son is only 10, but definitely plans on college, probably early, too.

--Jenny

Lorna in the boonies

03-20-2008, 10:45 AM

I'm 2nd generation. My degree is in Special Education, and I used it for four years before quitting to raise my kids. My dad's degree is in biology, and he used it to become a fighter pilot (so much for a career in one's degree field, though he did become a high school biology teacher once he retired from the military). My mother's degree is in English. She was a SAHM and never used it until she started teaching after my little brother got out of high school. As a matter of fact, I was teaching before she was!

My dh is 1st generation. His degree is in Pastoral Ministries (he's a pastor).

Margaret in CO

03-20-2008, 10:59 AM

My mom had two degrees: one nursing and one in PT. I don't know about her parents--her dad may very well have. My dad has a BS in math. My bro has his PhD, my sis and I, BS. My 4 sils have two BS, one MA and one PhD. Their dhs have two MAs. Another bil has a BS. My dh has an MPA. My mil has two BAs. My oldest has a BA and will start grad school this fall. I have one halfway through a BS. I have two neices with MAs, one with a BA about to start grad school, one with a a BS about to start grad school and one about to get her BA. Gosh, we 've all gone to a lot of school! :D

momofkhm

03-20-2008, 11:06 AM

My grandparents did not. So I'm second generation.

My brother went to college but never graduated although if he can get away with it, he will tell you that he did. (I saw what he sent in for a high school reunion.)

DH is first generation. His father did eventually get a college degree, but it was after dh did.

JFS in IL

03-20-2008, 11:15 AM

and my Mom worked to put my Dad through...she didn't go back and complete her BA until she was a Grandma!

Both my in-laws went to college..and I think one of hubby's grandparents did, too.

Teddi

03-20-2008, 11:19 AM

Wow!:w00t: How lucky for you!! Talk about opportunity falling in your lap(top)!:smilielol5:

Just this very morning I got an email from Susanna Arrendondo from quickdegree4u.com. According to Susanna, I can get my degree with no classes and no tests. In fact, I can get my Phd through this stellar organization.

I am beyond excited. Do you think I should click on the link in the email now?

Or after I check my virus protection software?

:lol:

My mom will be so proud.

Anne/Ankara

03-20-2008, 11:25 AM

I'm third generation (my grandparents were Michigan middle class farmers who actually did send their children to university in the 1910's, even my grandmother, which was quite unusual for that time.

My dh is first generation...

Linda in NM

03-20-2008, 11:39 AM

Me, too--I have a Ph.D. and teach at the university.

susie in tx

03-20-2008, 11:48 AM

My parents attended business school and received certificates. I have an uncle, on my mother's side, who earned a bachelor's degree before I did. But, I was the first in my family. Two of my siblings have associates degrees now. My mother went back to school after we were grown and earned an associates. My youngest sister earned her bachelor's from the University of Phoenix just this last December. It took her a while, but she did it.

I also have a cousin who has a master's. I would love to get one, too.

Beth in SW WA

03-20-2008, 12:28 PM

susie in tx

03-20-2008, 12:38 PM

I am a first generation grad (Western Washington University '92). My dh is a 3rd generation grad (WWU '91). His maternal grandfather was a college professor of Agriculture in CO & OR back in the old days when Agriculture was a degree :)

Ag Bus was a degree in Iowa where I went to school. Generally, the men and women who were interested in going back to their farms majored in Ag Bus.

NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too

03-20-2008, 01:15 PM

Neither my grandparents or parents (or siblings for that matter) ever graduated from college. I was hoping my daughter would be the one to break this, but it doesn't look very promising at the moment. I wish there was a way I could go to college. :crying:

My dh is the first generation NOT to have a college degree.

His great grandfather was a country doctor is Iowa.
His grandfather was a professor, gifted musician and rocket scientist.
His father was a physics major, gifted musician and government analyst.

My dh is a great guy, who happens to sell car parts. He's very bright but not motivated to go to school (got his pilots license at 18 and builds lots of cool rockets).

I'm hoping my kids will go to college and find something they enjoy doing.

Carolfoasia

03-20-2008, 01:20 PM

Hi there,

I am a newbie here. Well, really, I am an oldbie. I used to post on this forum a long time ago, but I thought I would see if there were any self-education forums on the Well-Educated Mind site. I see this is combined with the high school site. Well, I now have a high schooler, and I want a site for self-education. So, I am hoping I find a place here to learn from everyone. :)

College Education

Dad's side:

Grandmother "Wardie": Syracuse University, Education 1915. She was orphaned at age eleven, but her parents (specifically her mother who had all the money in the estate) left her money designated for a college education. I thought this was great foresight on their part.

My Dad: Cal Tech, Engineering 1939

Mom's side: Just my mom, University of Illinois, Medical Technology, 1948

Me:
BS Foods and Nutrition with Community Nutrition emphasis, Oregon State University, 1981
M.Ed. College Student Services Administration with minor in Counseling, 1987

My brothers: BS San Diego State, Finance, 1981. The other brother? He went to Pepperdine and USC, but he was just there to play volleyball. He went on to play for the US National Team and never went back to finish his degree. :(

My mom's parents were not educated, but I will say that my grandfather was really well-read. He would have been great on this board. He was an immigrant to this country in the 1920's and really encouraged education with his three daughters. My mom was the only one who graduated from college though.

My husband's side is 2 generations on his dad's side. His dad was the only one of the four children to get an education. He got a BS in Soil Science but went back to become a surgeon after his brother was killed in the Korean War because he didn't want to see soldiers die from lack of treatment. Both his children went to school. My dh has a Ph.D. in statistics.

st_claire

03-20-2008, 01:31 PM

2nd generation. My grandparents were all too poor to go to University or College.

My dad has a PhD and my mom has a BA. Dh's mom is an R.N. and his dad is a medical doctor.

I am just finishing up my Masters (no desire for a PhD) and dh did an undergrad in accounting and took his professional exams.

Carolfoasia

03-20-2008, 01:32 PM

langfam

03-20-2008, 01:32 PM

Neither my grandparents nor parents have college degrees. At the time, Singapore (where I'm from) was a third world country. It's not anymore though.

I have a Masters in Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. My brothers both attended University of Kentucky. One has a degree in Engineering and the other in Finance.

Neither DH's grandparents nor parents went to college. DH has a Masters in English from the University of New Mexico. 3 of siblings of college degrees. 1 sibling doesn't.

Carolfoasia

03-20-2008, 01:34 PM

My dh is a great guy, who happens to sell car parts. He's very bright but not motivated to go to school (got his pilots license at 18 and builds lots of cool rockets).

I'm hoping my kids will go to college and find something they enjoy doing.

I always look at Bill Gates as an example of someone who didn't get a college degree and enjoys what he is doing! :)

st_claire

03-20-2008, 01:37 PM

What is your masters in?

Computer Science.

Carolfoasia

03-20-2008, 01:41 PM

Computer Science.

Oh, that sounds so hard. When I was in school, the computer science majors were up late hours, but that was back in the days where people didn't have personal computers, and they had to go to labs on campus and carry copious amounts of data cards.

I am sure it is different now. :)

Carolfoasia

03-20-2008, 01:46 PM

Neither my grandparents nor parents have college degrees. At the time, Singapore (where I'm from) was a third world country. It's not anymore though.

I lived in KL from 1997-1999. Part of the reason I had an interest in Asia was that I was in a ministry at the University of Oregon and half of our students were from Singapore! They used to fix me yummy Chinese food all the time and say, "Maybe God is calling you to Asia, Carol." I used to reply, "But I am too TALL for Asia!" Low and behold, I WOULD go to Asia fifteen years later! It was so fun to be in KL and go down and visit those friends who were now all graduated and back in Singapore. It is a different world compared to Malaysia. So, it was a nice break for us every once and a while.

PariSarah

03-20-2008, 02:01 PM

other than a few years' community college.

My mother and I got our bachelors degrees the same year. And we got our masters degrees the same year. I think if she had more energy, she would have gone for the doctorate, too, just to keep up the trend. :D My dad got an associates degree while I was in high school or college. I think his mom had a college degree, but his dad didn't. Most of my extended family is either military, police, or blue collar. I think some of my uncles have gone to school through their military connections, but few of them were traditional students--mostly went back after being discharged, or on-the-job training or what have you.

Dh, on the other hand, has higher ed in his DNA. Both his parents are highly degreed, and his dad is a university president. His maternal grandparents were also extremely well-educated. I don't know about his paternal grandparents. I think there's some military in his family, but a few generations back. Most of his extended family is quite well-educated.

Old Dominion Heather

03-20-2008, 02:07 PM

I'm at least a third generation.

pixelroper

03-20-2008, 02:44 PM

only one great grandparent TIKO & one grandparent on mother's side, mom's siblings all went, mom & dad went but never finished-preferring to get married and raise a family, myself and siblings all have bachelors. DH is a hs drop out, got his GED in the military and is probably more successful than the my side in some ways. funny no?

Eliana

03-20-2008, 02:48 PM

Three of my four grandparents graduated from college (my maternal grandmother had to leave college for health reasons).

Both my parents have graduate degrees (if my mother hadn't switched majors so often, she'd have 3 or 4 masters degrees... she took all the classes which interested her, usually all but one or two, for a given major, and then, rather than finishing it out, she'd get drawn into another program - she did finish one, and she so had much fun and learned so much in the process!

Carrie in NC

03-20-2008, 03:20 PM

,

I am a newbie here. Well, really, I am an oldbie. I used to post on this forum a long time ago, but I thought I would see if there were any self-education forums on the Well-Educated Mind site. I see this is combined with the high school site. Well, I now have a high schooler, and I want a site for self-education. So, I am hoping I find a place here to learn from everyone. :)

In the past I have seen posts on this forum about what women are doing to self-educate. I know at least some of the stuff you've done (with the Well-Educated Mind) so I hope you can find some like-minded ;) people here!

Hope to see more of you here!

Carolfoasia

03-20-2008, 03:38 PM

In the past I have seen posts on this forum about what women are doing to self-educate. I know at least some of the stuff you've done (with the Well-Educated Mind) so I hope you can find some like-minded ;) people here!

Hope to see more of you here!

Thanks Carrie! I don't know why I didn't think about coming here before!:lurk5:Love that popcorn feature.

Gwen in TX

03-20-2008, 03:38 PM

My grandparents didn't complete high school (needed on the farm). My dad went through 11th grade and directly into an apprentice program (trade school for a particular business). My mom (one of five, the only girl, one sibling used the military to go to med school, one went into the military for his entire career, one went into the insurance business directly out of high school, only the baby of the family went to college - by then my grandparents could help out financially) graduated from high school. Later at age 60, she studied for real estate, and passed her licensing exam with a perfect score!

MY MOM ALWAYS SAID TO ME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP - IF YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE, I WILL PAY FOR IT. I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GO.

And she did - through my master's degree, she worked and all her earnings went to put me through. I think my mom could have been anything, done anything - her mind was quick enough, she just didn't have the money to study when she was young. She was determined that I would have that opportunity.

DH is another story -- his parents both went to college, dad has master's degree, grandparents on mother's side both went to college as well.

Pam "SFSOM" in TN

03-20-2008, 03:57 PM

Neither my grandparents or parents (or siblings for that matter) ever graduated from college. I was hoping my daughter would be the one to break this, but it doesn't look very promising at the moment. I wish there was a way I could go to college. :crying:

You can do it. I so admire what you are doing -- your journey of self-education. You are never too old or too far behind to do this.

I, for one, am rooting for you. Your determination encourages me.

Laura in CA

03-20-2008, 03:58 PM

My great-grandfather was a doctor in Manchuria, my grandfather was a banker, and my (Korean) father is a PhD physicist (came to UC Berkeley on a scholarship after the Korean War & met my mother there); on my mother's side (England) I think she's the first college grad -- her grandmother (who raised my mother, who was an orphan) left school after 3rd grade to go into domestic service.

Interesting thread!
:auto:

Pam "SFSOM" in TN

03-20-2008, 04:09 PM

First generation.

Lorna

03-20-2008, 04:15 PM

Third generation...

My grandparents met studying chemistry at university in the 1920's. My parents met at Edinburgh University and I later met dh there in our first year in halls. We were 18. Both my sisters and dh's niece followed us to Edinburgh University too.

:cheers2:

Carolfoasia

03-20-2008, 04:36 PM

percytruffle

03-20-2008, 05:07 PM

I was the first person to attend college in my family. I have a masters in Art Education.

My parents grew up during the depression. Mom left the family farm to go work in the city and earn money. She went back to school to get her GED when I was in high school. Dad graduated near the top of his class from a Catholic high school. He was runner up for a science scholarship that would have enabled him to attend college. He became a mechanic instead. Times were tough when my parents were younger. They had choices made for them out of necessity.

I am quite a bit younger than my siblings. None of them showed any interest in higher education. We share the same mom, but have different dads. All of my siblings kids are in college or college bound except one neice. One of my nephews in a chem engineering major, one is a business major, and one is ABD in Rhetoric.

Antonia

03-20-2008, 05:13 PM

Both dh and I are first-generation graduates. We went to college despite expectations to the contrary.

Moira in MA

03-20-2008, 06:09 PM

I was the only one of my generation to attend university and I went on to get a masters.

dh was the first of many in his family.

Sandy in Indy

03-20-2008, 06:36 PM

Third generation here. My grandfather was a pharmacist, my dad was a pharmacist, my uncle's a pharmacist, my brother's a pharmacist...I have a teaching degree. (And I only went to Purdue one summer...mainly so I could stay in the family. I was the first to go to a university other than Purdue.)

Next year, dd will be the fourth generation to have a college degree.

dirty ethel rackham

03-20-2008, 06:56 PM

First generation. My dad went to college on the GI bill after returning from Korea, but never finished. He was offered a good job and took it in lieu of finishing. My mom took college classes, but never graduated. It was my dad's goal to make sure that all of his kids graduated from college. 5 out of 6 did. However, my sister, who went back to school 7 times, finally finished her degree 7 years ago. She is going back to school now to get her teaching degree.

Caroline

03-20-2008, 07:56 PM

On my dad's side. His great-grandfather went to Ohio Northern. They are farmers, and truly believed in college education. As the story goes, they majored in agriculture and minored in business. Now, that was just for the men. I think Aunt Maude did finish high school, though. My dad's mom's family was not as educated, although my grandmother did attend college for a couple of years before she got married. Her dad was a Methodist minister, back in the early 1900's. It didn't involve a college education. (Funny aside... He was offered fist chair violin in the Cincinnati Symphony, but his father made him turn it down because he was afraid they would be playing in bars.) My dad has a Ph.D. in economics.

My mom was the first person in her family to go to college. She has an MS in nursing. She was a college professor.

My sisters and I all went to college. All of us have graduate degrees. My sisters both have MS in Education and I have a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech. My baby sister is working on her Ph.D. in math education as a way to distract herself while her husband in serving in Iraq.

ereks mom

03-20-2008, 09:10 PM

...neither of my parents graduated from high school. Each of them earned a GED, but my mama went to LPN school when I was in elementary school, and both went to college when I was in my teens/20s.

My daddy went to college on the GI Bill & got his associate's when I was in high school, then went back for his bachelor's after I graduated from college. Neither of his parents had been to college, but I think they did graduate high school.

My mama & I were actually in college at the same time; she graduated with an associate's the same year I graduated with my bachelor's. She continued on to get her BS in nursing a few years later. Her daddy (my grandfather) only had a 3rd grade education; her mama (my grandma) only had an 8th grade education.

I am the only one of my siblings (there are 3 of us) who has earned a college degree (I have 2 bachelor's degrees & a master's degree), although my sister briefly attended business school & also finished LPN school, and my brother has started working toward a degree in business/banking & finance.

Jan P.

03-20-2008, 09:50 PM

How Cool!!!!!

Jan

Jan P.

03-20-2008, 09:56 PM

I am the first generation of graduating from college in my family. Yet, all of my siblings work and make money while I stay home with my kids. I'm thankful that my husband also went to two colleges, graduate school, and was in the military so that we can afford to live as we do. I'm so fortunate to be getting another education along with my children.

mcconnellboys

03-20-2008, 10:18 PM

My husband and I are both second generation, from public universities, as were our parents before us. We sort of hope for a smaller, private university for our son, but we'll just have to wait and see.....

Regena

Katia

03-20-2008, 11:36 PM

I didn't go to college, and neither did my parents. They got married exactly one month after they graduated from high school and Dad went straight into the Marines. (draft)

They put my sister through 1 year at a private Christian college and then transferred her to the state U for 1 1/2 years. She didn't do well and then got married.

Parent's thought since they wasted so much money on sister that it would be a waste on me too......(her high school grades were Cs and Ds ; mine were all As and I graduated Valedictorian)........so I didn't "get" to go to college. I got a job instead, and then got married to a college grad with parents that were college grads and grandparents who were college grads.

All the in-laws think I'm totally uneducated and not capable of homeschooling my children. It 's been a fun 13 years. (sarcastic voice here)

My ds has completed all the college credits he needs (with this semester totally "off") and is graduating with his BA in Computer Science in May. He earned his AA in Computer Science when he was 18.

Oldest dd has been accepted into all 5 colleges that she applied to (with academic scholarships) and into all the Schools of Music that she auditioned at (with music scholarships). Don't know which she'll choose, but she is headed off to college in the fall.

Youngest is still in high school, but intends to go to college.

I don't think I've done such a bad job educating these dc despite my lack of college education.

So, my children will be the First Generation College Graduates on my side of the family.

Mad Jenny Flint

03-21-2008, 08:12 AM

First one on both sides, including most of my cousins, to go to college- Ph.D.

Only because my parents both realized the value of education and pushed for it.

ChocolatePrincess

03-21-2008, 01:00 PM

I'm 2nd generation.....both of my parents went and graduated from college. My dh is the 1st college graduate on his father's side of the family and it is a big family. He has around 70 cousins on that side alone.

debbiec

03-21-2008, 05:13 PM

I'm a 2nd generation grad (Czech immigrants), hubby was 1st generation grad (German immigrants)

Karin

03-21-2008, 08:33 PM

I'd say at least third on my dad's side, although my dad has his MD but no bachelor's degree (got in after 2 years of pre-med) and is a surgeon, so did a residency. His dad had to do his education twice, because Canada refused to recognize whatever he had, so he had to redo his last 2 years of high school and his post-secondary education. Not sure about the generations before that. Not sure, but I think my grandmother might have gone to teacher's college, but it's fuzzy right now.

First on my mother's side, but that side is more self-taught and very literate. But they were poor. My mother could have gone but she thought her parents couldn't afford it so did one year at Ryerson Polytech and then went to work until she got married. Insterestingly, before that, she taught in a 1 room school ala Little House on the Prairie but in the 1950s! She even slept in a loft where the only heat came from a stovepipe--and this was in Manitoba.

As for my siblings and I we range from leaving school after gr. 11 to Ph.D. The two extremes are my 2 adopted siblings, although I have an uncle and cousin with Ph.Ds. My aunts and uncles are a mix of high school, teacher's college (back when it was 1 year), and various levels of post-secondary degrees.

Chris in CA

03-21-2008, 08:35 PM

First generation here

Rebecca in GA

03-21-2008, 08:39 PM

First. And although I'm the fourth of five siblings, I was the first to earn a degree.

Merry

03-21-2008, 10:24 PM

Third generation here A grandmother and a grandfather didn't finish college but they started. Others got medicine and theology degrees. My parents and their siblings went to the Ivies but none of my generation have. Mostly state colleges instead.

Laurel-in-CA

03-22-2008, 01:22 AM

My dad attended college on the GI bill, finished his BA but (despite 3 tries) never finished his MA. My mom never thought herself qualified for college but ended up at UCLA, where she met my dad. She quit in her last year to begin her motherhood qualifications, then worked as an executive secretary (on both coasts) for a number of years post-baby.

I have an AA from community college and two BAs - one from a UC and one from a CSU...these are all due to having my midlife crisis in my 20s, wondering what to do with my [single] life. I married in my mid-30s and now have 4 kids...going from deadline-driven technical writing to homeschooling feels like a lateral career change, LOL. I'll be 64 when the last kid graduates...what will I do with myself then???

Colleen

03-22-2008, 04:17 AM

I am always so happy when Carrie pops in, and now to see both of you on board. What fun!:D

Carolfoasia

03-22-2008, 09:45 AM

I am always so happy when Carrie pops in, and now to see both of you on board. What fun!:D

This board moves so fast! I can't believe how many people are here. I look forward to diving in and learning!

Oak Knoll Mom

03-25-2008, 11:30 PM

Third generation. My grandfather went to college after WWII on the GI bill and both of my parents have multiple degrees.

Crissy

03-25-2008, 11:56 PM

I have no doubt one of my sons will be first in my family.
I come from a long line of tradesmen and craftsmen. Not a day of college as far back as I can see.

profmom

03-26-2008, 12:04 AM

1st here. My mom graduated from high school, but my dad dropped out. Dh's parents are college grads.

transientChris

03-26-2008, 03:56 AM

Well I don't really know. Both my parents had degrees but I don't know about my grandparents since they were all dead or thousands of miles away by the time I was born. I do know that my grandparents were educated but to what extent I don't know. My father was born in 1914 and was the youngest of three. My mother was born in 1922 and since WW1 raged from 1914-1919, I don't know if or when her parents went to college. They were wealthy landed gentry but since there was a huge war in the area, who knows? My mother didn't tell me and I just knew that they were wealthy and multi-lingual. I never knew them since they died before I was born.

My dh is the first in his family to graduate college and he went on to get his PhD.

Peela

03-26-2008, 08:02 PM

My maternal grandmother is fiercely proud of the fact that she went to teacher's college, and later university, and became a very independent and highly educated woman in a time when that was not common. Of her 3 children, one is a policeman, and my mother went to uni, stopped and got married, and then went back later in life. My maternal grandfather was also a teacher (he is 94 now and still gopng strong. granma has alzheimers at 88).
Paternally, my father is English and his parents were working class battlers who did everything for their children. All three went to university- dad to do astronomy, one sister is a doctor, the other a teacher.

I was expected to go to university, by my father and grandmother, but my parents divorced during my teens and I went into severe depression, and left home at 16. I have no real ambition to go to uni any more.( I did get a naturopathic diploma through mostly distance education). Sometimes I think it would be nice, to do English Lit or something, but homeschooling has also taught me to self educate, and I am content with that. Less time learning things I am not so interested in.