So my family immigrated to the U.S when I was about 5 years old. We are citizens but our family income is pretty low (under 50K I believe). While my mom didn’t go to college, my dad did receive a bachelor’s from his home country in Africa (won’t name which one). However, it isn’t at all related to his current occupation.
I’m only a junior, but since I’m already starting the application process for summer programs, my dad is advocating that I lie about his degree because it’ll give me more opportunities (scholarships for being 1st gen student). If colleges find out about that, couldn’t the consequences be severe? Also, it isn’t morally right to do so, but he’s kinda forcing me to leave it off of all of my future applications.
If it is your name on the application, and if you sign it, then YOU are responsible for what is on there. You have to do what you reasonably believe is the right thing to do.
Can you check with a neutral party, i.e., a guidance counselor or some other trusted adult?
ETA: For me, I would not feel right, or believe it correct, to do that - if the circumstances are as you describe them.
Don’t let him see your applications. Change your password. Lying on an application can result in not being admitted, kicked out if it is found later, diploma taken away at any time in your lifetime, fraud charges if you accept aid under false application data…not worth it for so little gain. What are these 1st gen scholarships that he thinks you will get? Most likely you will get need aid based on low income and it will not matter in the slightest if you indicate he got a degree in Africa. They may entirely discount it. You are likely still a targeted demographic. Tell him you won’t sign fraudulent documents as part of your application process, where does it stop? I’d have that discussion now and get it out of the way while the stakes are low.
Your dad can’t force you to check the wrong box. You are the one filing the application. Tell him that lots of people graduate from college here in the US and then end up with jobs that aren’t related to their college degree. My current job has nothing whatsoever to do with either my undergraduate field or the field of my first master’s degree. To get my current job, I had to complete graduate school in new subject entirely.
Your father is also confused about the amount of money and special opportunities for first generation students. You will get much better money and opportunities just for having good grades and good test scores. In general, any “boost” you would get for being first generation would be about the same as the “boost” for being an immigrant from Africa.
This isn’t an issue that is worth lying about. You are correct that the consequences can be severe.
Thanks everyone! I will have a discussion with him immediately! I truly didn’t feel comfortable stating that he didn’t attend college, not just because of the potential consequences if a college found out, but also because, as y’all said, it’s just wrong.
My parents have advocated that I lie on college applications (I won’t, of course). Like others have said, it’s entirely your application; not your father’s. You shouldn’t even feel the need to justify your decision with your dad.
While you’re probably interpreting it correctly and he’s asking you to lie, there’s a chance that he’s actually correct and his bachelor’s isn’t what’s meant in the US as a bachelor’s. Many overseas degrees are not considered full bachelor’s degrees. Some qualify only as high school; others are the equivalent of a few years at a US college, but more courses would be required before it would count as a BA / BS in the US. So it’s possible that he has a bachelor’s but he doesn’t have a “bachelor’s” in US terms. That sounds like a legalistic loophole, but it does make a difference when people with “bachelor’s” that aren’t US-equivalent try to apply to grad school – many times they need to repeat undergrad courses and effectively do a whole new degree.
I’m not sure how to check his specific school, but find out if it was a 4-year degree. or only 3 years. You could google his alma mater, but it might not have a web page or it might have changed its requirements since he graduated. But just FYI.
You don’t write that you’re first-gen. On the CommonApp, you write that your dad got a college degree from … University or … Community College (City, Country). THEN the university is free to decide whether that “counts” or not. When the family is an immigrant family and the current occupation isnt related to the degree, the university can decide you’re first-gen ( at universities where first-gen status matters, anything below a recognized 4-year degree is “discounted”, so if your dad got an accounting certificate from a 2-year college program, you’d still be considered first gen even though your dad went to college. But if your dad got an MBA from the country’s most respected university, then it’d be different.)
Don’t lie. It’s pointless, especially since telling the truth may have the same effect, but without the consequences of being rescinded.
One more voice chiming in against lying about anything, ever, on your application. Just be very clear about where he did get his degree and what type of degree it was, and that will confer whatever advantage or lack of advantage it should.
So, for the rest of your life, every time someone talks about being ‘first gen’ you will flinch.
Our history follows us, especially in the internet age. Do not lie about anything. There is no pile of gold waiting for first gen students, but even if there were, you don’t want this hanging over your head.
I think there are plenty of Africans with bachelor’s degrees from unis in African countries that are totally globally applicable. Is your dad black, or white?
Your father means well, but follow your better judgement and do not lie on the application, it is not worth the possible trouble. Yes 1st gen is a hook but you’re already an URM which is a hook in itself. I don’t advocate lying on the common app because it will hang over you for a long time and make you question if you truly got in on your own merit. Tread carefully…
