<p>I'm going to be a senior in high school so I'm getting ready to fill out college applications and the FAFSA form. My mother never graduated from high school and my biological father, whom never been in my life at all and ONLY decided to see me for 3 days when I was five because my mother was suing him for not supporting me. My mother say he went to college for four years and got a degree in something. Another thing is, my mother got married to my step-dad when I was 12 and he also went to college but for 1 year. I am also the oldest of all my siblings. My question is, does first generation student mean being the first of my siblings to go to college?. If not, can I still classify as first generation student because my mother never graduated from high school, my stepdad is not related to me, and my biological father isn't really a father to me and he's never been there for me. </p>
<p>The reason I'm asking this question is because my family is really poor and I need all the financial aid I can get.</p>
<p>p.s no disrespectful comments telling me to "get a job and stop being lazy". I DO plan on having a full time job in college!!! I can't get a job right now because my family live in INCOME-BASED housing meaning if I were to get a job right now, the rent will go up. That's why I'm waiting until I go to college so I can move out and then I will get a job.</p>
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<p>No, you are not a first generation student.</p>
<p>Being a first gen student is really not going to net you any financial aid as the primary drivers are your parents income/assets. Your mother and your step-dad’s income assets will go on the FAFSA. For schools that require the CSS profile/Non custodial profile, they will ask for the income assets of your mom, step dad and bio dad.</p>
<p>You are looking at Pace a school that is not generous with financial aid, does not meet 100% demonstrated need and does not participate in EOP. I would reconsider having this school on your list. Use a bottoms up approach to make sure that you have some affordable options.</p>
<p>thank you sybbie719 for answering my question and I will definitely take Pace off my lists of colleges</p>
<p>“For schools that require the CSS profile/Non custodial profile, they will ask for the income assets of your mom, step dad and bio dad.”</p>
<p>That’s a problem because I don’t even know where he is, I haven’t seen him since I was five and I don’t even know if he’s alive.</p>
<p>First of all look at the list of schools you are considering and see if any of them require PROFILE. If any do, you can file a waiver for NCP, and see how that goes. If he has not had any contact with your mother or you and not paid any support at all for all of these years, it might work out. Most schools require FAFSA only, so it may not be an issue. You can talk to your mother, get income and asset estimates and get some idea what kind of EFC you have. You then have to see what colleges you can afford. Unless you have some high test scores and good grades, the options are likely to be commuter schools. Room and board is expensive,and most schools do NOT meet need even if you have it.</p>