Study hard to earn a scholarship.
If you're the first member of your immediate family to achieve the honor of acceptance to a higher-learning institution, you're considered a first-generation college student. First-generation college students often come from families in need of financial assistance, so many benefactors have set up funds to aid these students. Research scholarship requirements such as background and grade point average to find the scholarship right for you.
Sallie Mae First in My Family Scholarship
The Sallie Mae Fund, in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund, offers the First in My Family Scholarship to Hispanic-American students. You'll need to already be fully enrolled in a higher-education institution, maintain a 3.0 grade point average, be a United States citizen or permanent resident and be of Hispanic-American heritage. Awards range between $500 and $5,000. You will need to fill out an application well in advance of the start of your institution's fall semester. As of February 2010, applications are closed for the 2009-2010 school year. (reference 1)
Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship
Among its many scholarships, Coca-Cola offers scholarships specifically for students who are the first in their immediate families to attend a higher-learning institution. You must have already been accepted by the institution in question before applying for the scholarship, and the applications generally run from September through October. Coca-Cola offers the scholarship at 400 campuses across the United States. Ask your institution's financial aid office if it is connected with the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship for more information.
College-Specific Scholarships
Most colleges and universities use donated money to internally fund their own scholarships. When considering which college you'd like to attend, research the institution's scholarships and policies to see if it has a special fund set up for first-generation college students. For example, Arizona State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers $16,000 annually in various scholarships geared specifically toward first-generation college students. For its program, you fill out one application in the spring and you'll be considered for a number of scholarships. Each institution handles scholarships differently, so do your research and plan well in advance to meet application deadlines. (reference 3)
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