Is my Mom a widow, or divorced?

Applying to College
1

<p>I don't know what to put under "mother" in college applications. Here's the situation:</p>

<p>My biological father died before I was born. My parents were married, so my mom became a widow. A year later, she married a man but divorced him about a year later. However, in between that time, she became pregnant and I now have a half-sister. This all happened by the time I was about 2 years old.</p>

<p>Since then, my mother has not re-married. Is it alright if I put "widow", since that was my dad? (I also don't want colleges to start expecting money to come from that divorced Dad. Will that hurt/affect EFC? She hasn't even talked to the guy in like 10 years.)</p>

2

<p>Since your biological dad is deceased, I would put widowed.</p>

3

<p>yeah that’s what i was thinking, thanks</p>

4

<p>Her current status is divorced.</p>

5

<p>well maybe but would it be a terrible lie if I just put widowed? I think it would make things easier…?</p>

6

<p>She’s widowed since he’s not YOUR father.</p>

7

<p>Your mom is divorced. She was a widow before the second marriage. Saying anything else is lying.</p>

8

<p>Why not just call an admissions office or two and ask?</p>

9

<p>ok I will</p>

<p>I just don’t want them to think she’s been with a husband all of these years, it was a quick marriage over 14 years ago, and it holds little meaning compared to her belief that she is a widow. still, I understand what the rest of you are saying about her status as divorced. and if I put divorced, will they start asking about the other guy? (expecting more money and such), or not because he isn’t my biological husband? that’s not something I would ask the admissions office lol</p>

10

<p>Yeah your mom is divorced. She was once a widow when your biological father died. Though since she was married again, this excludes being a widow. Since she is now divorced from the who she was once married to, her status is divorced, saying she is a widow would be over looking the whole second marrige.</p>

11

<p>^ Yup.</p>

<p>Just as if A divorced B, then married C, you wouldn’t call A divorced, would you?</p>

12

<p>They are asking your mothers status, not your deceased father/step father. She is divorced.</p>

13

<p>ok, now that I understand my mom is considered divorced, will they ask us about the step-father? does he need to come into play at all?</p>

14

<p>^
It depends on the school, and you probably won’t be able to find out if they will ask about your step-father until you apply to that particular school. Some may want further information and ask how long were they married, and valid proof, if they are debating on whether to expect financial help from your step-father or not.</p>

15

<p>how will they ask these specific questions? a phone call or something? i just want to know what to expect</p>

16

<p>^
Yeah I’m not sure. You may just have to go through the process, wait and see. If the university sends notice that they expect financial help from your step-father you can try to explain that this was a very short marriage, have no contact with him, and give valid proof. </p>

<p>Though you could possibly be recieving the same financial aid from the university reguardless of your mother status, since mostly all is base on EFC. Meaning if you were going to get the same FA reguardless they may not even ask about the marriage situation, and would be more on your part if your mother can not support tuition alone to recieve financial help outside of university funds given ( and this is where the school would expect if your step-father is in contact, etc… he would be the second financial help, yet they would not know, since all they’ve done is gave your mom the check).</p>

17

<p>On the common app, under father section, there’s a place for deceased date. I think that’ll make it clear that your father is deceased, regardless of what your mothers current status is.</p>

18

<p>^
Yeah that would clarify things, though if I remember correctly I think OP is applying/ have applied to Michigan State University.</p>