<p>First-generation college students are those who's parents don't have Bachelor's degrees.
I'm applying for ASU next fall and have a potential problem.
My mother received her Associate's from a design school in California, that's all fine and dandy because it doesn't count.
However, the problem creeps in when my father, who received a Bachelor's from ASU is added to the picture. My father disappeared from my life when I was four years old and has now returned to (basically) "mooch" off our welfare, so now the government has it documented that he's my father. I don't live with him and to be honest, I don't really consider him my father.
I have been counting on first-generation scholarships and programs for years now so as sort of a peace offering (though he still hasn't apologized whatsoever), he offered to be taken off of our welfare while I went through the college admissions process.</p>
<p>Who/what at the university checks your first-generation status?
Am I totally ineligible because I'm attending his alma mater with the same last name as him?</p>
<p>Your mother has an associates degree? According to many colleges, having any degree is considered having attended college. Just having a significant amount of credits without ever achieving the degree can also be considering as having attended college, since the person did. Therefore, your mom is technically a college grad with an associate’s degree. You may not be “first generation” either way, depending on schools you apply to. Some kids truly are. Don’t lie and cheat your way to college money. Earn merit awards based on your academic record. Apply to schools that will offer great Merit for your stats.</p>
<p>teach, this scholarship is only interested in parents that have a Bachelor’s. </p>
<p>With that said, your father is a college grad. You’re not first gen. Truth be told, there aren’t that many scholarships, period, for first-gen except that are school specific (and that scholarship has quite a few other strings attached).</p>
<p>“I understand that if any application information that I provide or that is provided on my behalf is false or misleading, I will not be eligible for any scholarship award, and that any scholarship awarded to me will be revoked and I will need to return any amounts paid to
me.” </p>
<p>It would be a mess if they award you the money and they later find out your father graduated from there.</p>
<p>You are barking up the wrong tree. Instead of trying for first gen money, look at what they offer to kids of alumni. You’ve got that connection whether you like it or not. Maybe you can take advantage of it.</p>
<p>Your post just made me mad, so you might not want to read this answer because it is not nice or helpful.</p>
<p>I just think it’s funny that you say He “mooched” off your welfare. What do you think welfare is anyway…mooching off the taxpayers. Sorry, you don’t qualify. You should have your parents, BOTH with some degree, get out there and work and earn the money. </p>
<p>MY mom was first generation for college and she got ZERO help. Her parents made her take public transportation to school and work to pay for it. My husband was first generation and he had to work his butt off at 2 jobs. If there had been a first generation scholarship out there for them, that was given to someone who decided that their parent didn’t “count” in the first generation decision it would have just been wrong.</p>
<p>A first-generation student isn’t just one whose parents didn’t go to college - it’s one who is in the first generation in their family to go to college. So if your grandparents went, then you are not a first-generation college student (general you - not necessarily referring to you specifically).</p>
<p>Even if he’s not on your welfare…you’re still, technically, not a first-generation college student. However, this is a little fuzzy since first-generation college student programs are usually for cultural reasons - the assumption being that if your parents and/or grandparents went to college, you have someone to help you navigate the college application process - including SATs, essays, and hunting for scholarships. So even though technically you are not a FGCS, culturally, you kind of are because it’s not like your father has been around to show you the ropes.</p>
<p>If you have found a lot of scholarships or programs aimed at FGCS, contact them and ask if you are eligible in their eyes.</p>
<p>Also, can we not get into the welfare = mooching thing? We are a society and we function as one; welfare and aid to needy families are a necessary safety net that can help people who are struggling. The average benefits recipient is off it within three years. In addition, the vast majority of adults on assistance are working, they simply aren’t making enough money to support their families - so it’s silly to assume her parents aren’t working simply because they are receiving public assistance. Besides, it’s not her fault that her parents are on public assistance, so why not focus on something she can actually change?</p>
<p>nj, you’re right- that was not helpful and not necessary. The OP is likely a minor and has no control over her welfare status. You have NO idea why the OP is on welfare and it’s not your place to judge. </p>
<p>Also, julliet, the scholarship defines first generation as parents without bachelor’s degrees.</p>
<p>You don’t qualify for that scholarship. There are all kinds of near misses with scholarships that are specific. It doesn’t matter what you need is and what issue make you not meet the criterion. If you don’t make it, you are not qualified.</p>
<p>And it does not matter whether the other parent lives with you or disappeared since you were born. There are no technical or cultural waivers. First generation means first generation. Hypothetically, the other parent might have disappeared without contact and be well off. The child will still be that parent’s legal heir, whether they had any contact or not. and benefit from the fruits of that parent’s success that it is assumed are higher when the individual had a BA.</p>