<p>1) Being Latino?</p>
<p>2) Low-income family? (less than 45,000)</p>
<p>3) I know first generation is a hook, but does it also work if: So neither of my parents went to college in Brazil and I would be the first one in my family to go to college here in the US. Does that count?</p>
<p>Im just curious. Thanks</p>
<p>1) go to the Hispanic Students subforum and read some of the threads there.</p>
<p>2) sometimes, some schools.</p>
<p>3) First gen is not a hook, more of a tip at some schools. College is college, no matter what country.</p>
<p>Sometimes? some schools? Ivy schools?</p>
<p>If you have super achievements and you’re from a low income family or poorer school district, that will be a plus in Ivy admissions. Question to you: do you have these achievements?</p>
<p>Well, I take AP’s, EC’s (French Club VP, Chem club, and Debate Club), work during the Summer, but haven’t taken the SAT or Subject tests yet. (Junior next year btw)</p>
<p>If you haven’t taken the SAT and can’t definitively talk about your GPA, it will be difficult to tell. Coming from a low-income background and/or being first generation can be tips at some schools; being URM is a hook of varying degrees at varying schools.</p>
<p>Sorry, yeah, i forgot about my GPA. 3.9/4.0 unweighted, 5.0/6.0 weighted.
AP’s: Human Geography (5)
European History, world history, biology (this year)
11/578 (competitive school)</p>
<p>Yeah, but you’re only a rising junior. If you continue to perform well and package the rest of your application well, being low-income and first generation will help you at top schools.</p>
<p>But am I considered a first generation?</p>
<p>Did you parents go to any kind of college at any time?</p>
<p>No, but my grandma from my mom’s side did</p>
<p>I don’t know why everyone is being so confusing about everything.</p>
<p>Yes, being Hispanic will help you, especially if you have a good GPA that puts you near the top of your class. The other things probably won’t really help or hurt you too much. But if you put together an application you consider to be very good (2100+ SAT or 33+ ACT, top-15 overall at your school, great ECs, strong essays) you’ll have a real shot at some top Ivies, and an even better shot at the lower Ivies.</p>
<p>Ok, THANKS!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You will still be considered first generation. I disagree with MSauce in that being low-income/first generation can be a huge help in the case of the very top schools, which are looking for those students. At the vast majority of other US schools, it will likely be detrimental to be low-income (for admission and/or financial aid).</p>
<p>Columbia very much values having its high percentage of minorities (I think it’s about 50%). Look into it.</p>
<p>My advice? Don’t worry about whether or not those are advantages. Keep working hard, take the most rigorous schedule you can handle, pursue outside interests that you enjoy and keep with them, and write an essay that shows who you are, not just what you’ve done. If you do all of that, then your stats will be your advantage and everything else will just be extra. Good luck!</p>
<p>Do Brazilians still qualify?</p>