What does being “first-generation” mean? At Yale, you are considered first-gen if neither of your parents or guardians completed a four-year degree in the U.S. This includes students whose parents may have attended college but did not graduate, or those whose parents attended university in a different country and are unfamiliar with the U.S. higher education system.
“To me, being low-income at Yale means support. I found an incredibly strong community of FGLI students here, with whom I never would have expected to become so close. At no other point in my life, and at no other place, have I felt my background is as well understood and accounted for as it is here, and I have nothing but gratitude for Yale’s proactivity and welcoming FGLI community.”
-Dersu Seater
What does being “low-income” mean? While officially often defined by Pell Grant eligibility or a zero-parental contribution financial aid award, being low-income is a broad experience. It encompasses students from under-resourced backgrounds who may navigate Yale with limited financial safety nets or social capital.
Naturally, first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students are those that identify with both conditions.
- FGLI (First-Gen, Low-Income) is an intersectional identity. It means you are not only trailblazing the path to a degree for your family, but doing so while managing the unique financial and social pressures that come with being under-resourced in an Ivy League environment.