<p>So here's my story. My parents were both born in poor parts of Western Europe. My mom came here when she was 16, my dad when he was 25. The came here with zero money to their name, spending it all on the plane ticket. They worked their BUTTS OFF to give me and my brother the chance to go to college. My mom was young enough to go to high school, by my dad didn't. They work basic jobs and make only about 50,000 a year thanks to my dad's second job. </p>
<p>So here's my question: Even though I'm still considered European/White, will my low-ish income and first generation status help me with financial aid and maybe even acceptance? I know it does help me stand out, but i'm worried because I'm still considered white.</p>
<p>There are plenty of first generation college applicants in the US who are white and whose families have been here since before the American revolution. They still are considered first generation because no one in their family has gone to college. Race and ethnicity don't enter into the evaluation of first generation status. The only thing that counts is that your parents and grandparents haven't gone to college</p>
<p>Now, whether being the first in your family to go to college, and/or whether being the first generation born in the US will actually make any meaningful difference in the college application process will depend on the colleges that you apply to.</p>
<p>Unless there is a specific scholarship targeted for first generation students, you aren't going to get any money out of this deal. Your financial aid will be based on your need as calculated by the FAFSA and/or PROFILE and/or any other particular system that the college(s) use.</p>
<p>Well, there are a lot of different types of Green Cards. One I believe in particular is an investment kind for rich people :p There are family based, as well as many, many other green cards. But let's not get into the byzantine halls of the Immigration Department...</p>