<p>Dartmouth has a huge commitment to accepting three types of students (I believe to be disproportionately higher than other schools). There is a special boost for first-gen college students, those with millitary service, and Native Americans. The first two, I believe, have been increasing as a priority in recent years. I'm not sure if this is related, but President Wright is a veteran AND first-gen college student. I believe he won some award last year for his work in encouraging young veterans to continue their education.</p>
<p>They will know that you are first generation becuase the Common App has a spot which requires you to write where your family members went to college and graduate school. This is where they can figure out if you are a legacy or a first-generation college student. There is another field where you can write if a grandparent (or even a step-parent?) went to Dartmouth. If not Dartmouth, you aren't supposed to put which schools they did go to, however.</p>
<p>do they even check whether or not ur parents really did/did not go to college? i mean it's like, u can put whatever u want on the apps...how do they know ur tellin the truth about ur first generation status? i've always been curios about that.</p>
<p>Take Math 2!! Unless you're really bad at math.</p>
<p>Do not lie on a college application. Ever.</p>
<p>i actually sort of am first generation...first american generation at least. i just don't know how they'r gonna check that kind of stuff. just curious!!</p>
<p>I would like to point out there is a difference between "first generation college student" and "first generation American". The former gives students a slight advantage while the latter is exceedingly commonplace, especially among Asian Americans as most people that are applying to college this generation have parents that immigrated here as opposed to parents that were born in the US.</p>
<p>Agreed... although i would suggest from a cultural aspect there is some ability to be unique in writing essays if you're a first generation American. I also think, only from reading these forums, that Asian-Americans do not get the same bump from their ethnicity as other minorities. However, I read somewhere that in five years, hispanics will be the majority so one might wonder if whites will get a bump? I think not. To be really honest, I find it a little disturbing that we base so much of this nation's "diversity" on skin color which is really only the most obvious indicator.</p>
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Agreed... although i would suggest from a cultural aspect there is some ability to be unique in writing essays if you're a first generation American. I also think, only from reading these forums, that Asian-Americans do not get the same bump from their ethnicity as other minorities. However, I read somewhere that in five years, hispanics will be the majority so one might wonder if whites will get a bump? I think not. To be really honest, I find it a little disturbing that we base so much of this nation's "diversity" on skin color which is really only the most obvious indicator.
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<p>While this is anecdotal evidence at best, immigration/cultural conversion/etc essays are perhaps the most commonplace essay topics I have ever seen for Asian Americans hands down. By no means are they unique. </p>
<p>Digression from the topic but I agree with your second point. It really saddens me when people from HYPSM decision threads write "Weaknesses: Asian Male".</p>
<p>Agreed. I think it's unfortunate that some students want to blame their ethnicity for what is holding them back. Asians have slightly higher average SAT scores, and guess what, they get accepted at 2-3 times the proportion of asian students in the US. It's also important to note that they are doing this mostly without legacy, and (not to be stereotypical, but) mostly without being recruited for athletics. With that in mind, it seems like they are being accepted at appropriate rates.</p>
<p>Masochist..I agree with you that it could prove a very common response and is why I say, there would be SOME ability to be unique... but there's the rub, you'd have to actually be uniquely creative in making that work. Advice that is too little too late for an ED application anywhere.</p>