<p>Hello everyone,
So my mother died of Breast Cancer right after she gave birth to me. Both of my parents are from Latin America, and they were both the first in their families to immigrate to the US. None of them have higher than a high school degree in their countries. After my mom died, my father struggled to take care of me and sent me back for a few years. I have had many tough struggles in my life but everything seems to be falling back into place now with hopefully and ivy league education.
The Question is that my father remarried ten years ago by a justice of the peace to an American woman that has truuly become a mother figure to me, yet she is still my "step mom" and not my actual mother. This women went to a good liberal arts school and a good graduate school. When colleges ask about my father's occupation and school I am goign to say "Janitor" and "No College." When they ask about my mother, can I put "Deceased" and "No College" or do I have to put my father's wife's information. I would rather not put her info because I want them to know that I am a first generation hispanic college student, and I don't even want them to think that I am half white.</p>
<p>I don’t think you have to put her information in. Pretty sure they’re referring to biological parents/legal guardians…</p>
<p>^Agreed.</p>
<p>I think they want to know about your actual blood mother, not a relatively new mother-figure in your life.</p>
<p>Yeah, put in your bio mother’s info.</p>
<p>I disagree.</p>
<p>My son’s father died, and on college applications he put his stepfather’s information.</p>
<p>The question is not about your biology, but about your home life - is education something that is valued in your home sort of question.</p>
<p>Did your step-mom adopt you?</p>
<p>In my opinion:</p>
<p>If she adopted you, she is your ‘mom’ and you use her job title and education.</p>
<p>If she did not adopt you, then your mom is deceased.</p>
<p>Agree with susgeek, it is the home environment, not the genetics. Having said that, however, this would not make you “half-white”. </p>
<p>Your situation is unique and makes you a perfect candidate for Questbridge (questbridge.org). Their applicaiton process will allow you ample opportunity to describe your history to college adcoms.</p>
<p>Do your stepmother and father file joint tax returns?</p>
<p>When were you out of the country and how long have you been back?</p>
<p>Have you been legally adopted by your stepmom?</p>
<p>Does she have any children with your father and/or prior to marrying your father?</p>
<p>I dont necessarily agree with everyone here who thinks you are lying if you dont mention your stepmom but it also depends on whether her influence on you was 2 years or the total 10 years. If she has been in your life for 10 years, it is considered a lie and since she seems to be highly educated, you should take her input on how you should represent her as opposed to CC’s collective wisdom. If you don’t disclose her existence and it still comes out based on joint tax returns or some other way, you will be labelled a liar and will face consequences.</p>
<p>I have two last names, one of my father’s and one of my biological mother’s. I have been living back in the country for thirteen years and have been living with my step mother and my father for ten years. She has been part of my life, but I don’t call her “mom” just her first name, but we still celebrate mother’s day with her. She has a one year old child with my father. </p>
<p>They do file tax returns together since they are legally married by a Justice and have been living together for ten years. So when I apply for financial aid, her info will be on it (which sucks because she makes almost twice the salary as my father). </p>
<p>The question whether she is my “legal” mother or not is a gray area. A few years ago we discussed as a family whether or not she should adopt me and become my legal guardian. I remember her saying “If God forbid, something happens to your father, we should be prepared and make sure all of the legal work is in place.” We neverk filed any paper work, so I don’t think she is my legal mother.</p>
<p>Both my parents also support putting my deceased mother’s info, but I am still not sure.</p>
<p>She does nt have to be your legal mother but she can be a legal guardian. I suspect for all legal purposes, she would be a guardian since you have lived with her for at least 10 years now. </p>
<p>If you look at the commonapp for the coming year, it shows parent 1, parent 2, legal guardian and siblings.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012-11CAO_Highlighted.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012-11CAO_Highlighted.pdf</a></p>
<p>So you would fill out your deceased mother’s information on parent 2 and stepmom’s in legal guardian and step brother in siblings.</p>
<p>You should also try to attend some college sessions and ask one of the adcoms about your situation, preferably one for a college you dont plan on applying to. If your father is remarried and has been filing joint tax returns, there is no way you can take your step mother out of the picture. However, she does nt become your biological mother unless you were adopted but she has been your legal guardian all this time by living with you and taking care of you.</p>
<p>If adopted, she becomes your “adoptive mother”. Currently, she is your “step-mother”. There is only one biological mother.</p>
<p>azcpamom - sorry, that makes more sense. I did nt mean to say biological mother. I was referring to mother on a common app since they don’t specify different types of mothers on it.</p>
<p>That’s ok, Texaspg! I am an adoptive mom so I was just trying to help the OP with the lingo. Just glad to see that nobody is using the dreaded “real” mom or “natural” mom. ;)</p>
<p>It seems like you could either check “mother” and fill in your mother’s information or “step-mother” and fill in your step-mother’s information, without either being the wrong choice.</p>
<p>
Education is valued in the homes of plenty of first-generation students. However, you’re right in that they are trying to examine your family’s background and opportunities. It doesn’t seem like the OP had the full benefit of a college-educated parent.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You are talking about three separate issues here:</p>
<ol>
<li>First gen: Here is what the CA states:</li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>So, you can list your dad as Parent 1, deceased mother as Parent 2, and stepmother in either the Legal Guardian spot (below parents on the CA) or in the Additional Info section (whichever is applicable).</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Your ethnicity is Hispanic. Even though your mother is deceased, your father is Hispanic and you have been brought up in a Hispanic culture.</p></li>
<li><p>Your race(s) is/are whatever race(s) your biological father and mother are/were. Note, Hispancs can and are of any race(s).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>P.S. OP, please see the Hispanic Students subforum, there is much helpful information about admissions, scholarships, fly in programs, summer programs, etc., as well as many knowledgeable and supportive members.</p>
<p>You will gain advantage by using your biological mom’s info, so go for that. People may try to influence you by saying that even though your real mom had no college, the person you grew up with had college education-but who cares, she is not your mother! Be a little bit selfish and use this kind of loophole to get more chance in the admission process. You had a tough life and you deserve it. You must put down that your mother is deceased. But once you say that, you should stick to that and say that she had no college education.
Good luck.</p>
<p>^Please read my post #15, it has already been established per the CA instructions what the OP should do. No judgment call/selfishness/etc. is necessary, the instructions are clear.</p>
<p>“If you are a minor with a legal guardian (an individual or government entity), then please
list that information below as well. If you wish, you may list step-parents and/or other adults with whom you reside, or who otherwise care for you, in the Additional
Information section.”</p>
<p>So yes, I am a minor, but with the information I provided, is she my legal guardian? I’m not sure, and I don’t think so? Also it states that “if you wish, you may list step-parents/ and or other adults with whom you reside.”</p>
<p>^that sounds pretty optional to me, so it seems like I wouldn’t have to put my step mom who is highly educated and has a decent paying job (60K)</p>
<p>For you to claim financial aid, your father needs to file a tax return which is a joint tax return.</p>
<p>How do you plan to get out of it when you say your stepmother makes 60k? It is not a choice when you apply for aid.</p>