Any AA for me?

Applying to College
1

<p>I know affirmative action is based a lot on race, but although I'm not a racial minority, I'm wondering if any of the following things count:</p>

<p>My father is an immigrant from a Mediterranean European country. He never finished high school.
My mom finished high school but never went to college (my mom is a native US citizen) </p>

<p>I'd be the first in my family to go to college and the 2nd or 3rd in my entire extended family (which includes A LOT of people) to go to college. </p>

<p>I'm near the top of my class and and have competitive enough scores and ecs I think for most "top colleges" (i'm hoping for Stanford or Brown). Do colleges care/recognize any of these factors when deciding to admit/reject you? </p>

<p>Because affirmative action based purely on race seems a bit unfair, as there are plenty of wealthy black children with parents who have Phd's etc and so don't really even need AA. </p>

<p>So do I have any edge? Even though I'm technically white? (although darker than most other white people to the point where many people mistake me for being Hispanic)</p>

2

<p>yeah, you're first generation. aa is not just based on race. it's based on income and educational bkgrd of parents also. </p>

<p>stanford especially will love you, but so will the ivies. try to play up that "my parents never went to college, i'm so excited to have the life-changing opportunity for an oustanding education" in your essays.</p>

<p>if you're poor, it will help you even more=)</p>