<p>So I was talking with my friend’s dad (former professor at UC Berkeley), and he said that colleges generally favor legacies and first-gens - though he said not to pin it on him. I’m almost sure about the verity of the former, but can anyone comment on the latter?</p>
<p>Accepting first-gen students is a priority at Brown.</p>
<p>Oh wow, just noticed I posted in the wrong section! But since I am applying to Brown ED, this is great!</p>
<p>Excuse my skepticism, but are you saying this from definite knowledge, or as motivation? o_O</p>
<p>Definite knowledge. Although it’s not 100% current (as of last year), I have no reason to believe it’s changed.</p>
<p>Wow, is this a priority for all Ivy Leagues? I know that being a first gen. is a boost but the way fireandrain addressed it seems as though it gives the applicant a large boost… did I misinterpret what you stated?</p>
<p>It doesn’t give you an edge unless you’re tied with a student who isn’t a first gen. Don’t get your hopes up. Just write a good essay and have your stats up to par.</p>
<p>of course, but would it help you if you have similar stats to an other applicant (not first generation) but he/she has better ECs?</p>
<p>I doubt it. ECs carry more weight, I believe.</p>
<p>mdh625: I can’t speak to any school other than Brown, so I have no idea what being first-generation means at other schools.</p>
<p>wolfd: Not true. At Brown, first-gen is a hook. It’s not a tie breaker. I’m pretty sure it carries more weight than ECs.</p>
<p>So, I’m not a first-gen college student… my dad went to Villanova, but my mom didn’t attend college. It’s not something I’m going to play up on my application, but is it any bit atypical?</p>
<p>i think they help first generation students because they normally come from very different backgrounds and typically live in low income regions; coming across an ivy qualified first generation student (in my opinion from what i have observed in my area) is very difficult because most first generation students attend disadvantaged schools and come across negative influences constantly, breaking out of that bubble is difficult but can definitely be done.
@catherinee5: in my opinion, since your father attended a good college, i would assume your family is well off (financially) and your family already as an idea of how the college application process is, you see for me my family barely knew anything about colleges until recently and never really thought about college when i was younger (something i am assuming your parents knew you would do after highschool) i dont think it will help you.</p>
<p>I am a first gen student. My parents knew nothing about the college application process, and my older brother didn’t go to college either, although he is regretting that now in this job market. I attended a public high school. But I also come from an old fashioned farm family. I have older parents…when they graduated high school, they were expected to help on the farm, not go to college. My dad barely finished high school.</p>