Hey you guys, here’s my dilema. So my dad went to college in Nigeria and my mom never got a degree. My dad dosen’t use his degree her in America. There is a scholarship I am applying for and one of the requirements is you have to be a first generation college student. I feel like I am snice throughout this whole process of getting into college I depended mostly on Google because the system is very different In Nigeria.
First generation means that neither of your parents attended college.
(Even if your Dad doesn’t use his degree)
Ask the organization granting the scholarship. My guess would be “no” though because your dad did go to college.
It doesn’t matter that your dad didn’t use his degree and that he didn’t help you with the college process.
The benefit of having a college-educated parent is life-long. As a child you benefited from having at least one college-educated parent.
Usually applications ask how many years parents went to college and what kind of degree they have. They don’t ask if a student is “first generation” because they have their own definition of what that means. If your dad has a degree then you’re probably not going to be considered first generation.
What scholarship are you hoping to get? The best aid comes from the schools, so you should target colleges that will be affordable with the aid they offer. Do you know your EFC or much your parents can pay per year? What are your stats and home state? Are you a US citizen? If so, you may qualify for a small federal grant based on family income.
You are not first gen. Your father went to college.
It can also mean neither parent FINISHED college.
In this case, the dad did. I also think the app won’t ask if you are first gen but rather ask where your parents went to college - that’s how the common app works, but maybe the scholarship app is different.