Does being ESL students (immigrants too) boost admission chance? If you were ESL students too and already got into college now, please share your views and what your admission results show regarding this issue. Below is my own circumstance!
I am an ESL students. I moved to U.S. 5 years ago from Taiwan, and English is not my native language. Many people have told me to not talk about immigrant story unless it is really significant, because admission officers get these kind of stories all the time. This applies to me especially as I am an ordinary immigrant (I did not have BIG story such as escaping from dictatorial country …etc). However, I have been placed in disadvantage as an ESL student among my peers as language barrier affects my learning ability. I am not sure if I should talk about/stress that I am an ESL student on my application 
On another thread you posted your GPA and test scores. It does not appear that your language barrier has crossed you any academic issues. That being the case…what disadvantage are you talking about?
You also say you go to a school that is highly competitive and well known…and your parents earn $200,000 a year.
I don’t think you can spin that into a “disadvantaged” story.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1903877-chance-me-for-ucs-and-uiuc-compsci-major-please.html#latest
Nothing “disadvantaged” about this at all.
No, speaking from personal experience, being an ESL student does not boost your application.
@“aunt bea” could you elaborate on your experience as ESL student when applying for colleges please?
Language barrier = ESL classes.
As per @thumper1 noted, you have above average test scores.
There aint NO WAY you can say that your English has adversely impacted your learning ability and academics.
From your post:
GPA:
Unweighted: 3.8/4.0
UC GPA (weighted): 4.22/5.0
ACT: 33
SAT Chinese: 800
SAT Math: 720
AP Tests (total: 4): 5 on two tests, 4 on two tests
ESL is there to support your English until you can get from the Basic Interpersonal Communication skills (BICS), which are skills in learning day-to-day language: “can you help me?” , to CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency)-skills required to master the academics.
If you try to use that in your application, you’ll give them a nice chuckle.
My colleague sits 3 desks away from me. She is the ESL coordinator. She has to report ESL scores to the State of California. If you had ESL in California, you also have scores that the school was mandated to report and they have the records. As an Asian student with high scores, and money, the adcoms won’t be sympathetic and give you a boost for being ESL. If anything, they will know you are trying to game them.
Are you saying you have a learning disability that caused you to get high test scores?
URM is given a boost. You are ORM.
You are being unfair to your ESL colleagues who really are at a disadvantage in their academics.
@“aunt bea” I never said I have a “learning disability”. My point is that language barrier has forced me to put in extreme amount of efforts throughout my high school career. From my personal experience, getting high test score doesn’t necessarily mean that an ESL student’s learning ability has not been adversely impacted due to poor English. I had to stay up late until 4a.m. almost every single day, translating nearly every single sentence on a electronic translator, memorizing 50 vocabs per day, practicing essay writing on daily basis…etc. I have only been to this country for 4 years. However, from someone who could not even understand a single word in class, I now have improved through my hardwork. I got 19 on an ACT practice test in 9th grade. And after preparing for the test for 3 straight years, completing almost all the practice materials existing out there, I fortunately improved my score. From my point of view, shouldn’t ESL students be recognized for the extra efforts they put in?
Of course, please don’t misinterpret my point of view. I am just trying to figure this confusion I have had. Thanks for clearing things for me!
You do understand that MOST students do not take the ACT as 9th graders…and many would,score as you did…not so well.
But you are doing fine…and there is no adverse affect on your learning profile…or socio-economic level.
Please start looking at what you have to offer instead of trying to find fault with what you have.
It makes it sound like you feel like you must attend Stanford or equivalent on a full,scholarship…when really…your stats and income would not support that at all.
And again I ask…what CAN your parents on their $200,000 a year income contribute towards your college costs.
Are you eligible for instate tuition status in CA? If so…your parents should be able to help you.
You WERE recognized by your efforts as indicated by the results of your test scores.
Aren’t you satisfied with that?? You’re right, it’s from YOUR point of view. You were supposed to learn; didn’t you know that this was your job? (What was I thinking??? ESL kids aren’t expected to do well??)
Why aren’t you proud of this achievement? You will be going to a university. Your parents earn far more money that most ESL kids would dream of having.
Reread @Thumper1’s post.
If you’re not satisfied with your achievements in the US, take a step back and apply somewhere that has violins. You should apply to schools in your home country because you are telling the world (US colleges) that learning English and receiving a free US public education wasn’t worth the effort.
I have a slightly different take on the OP’s question. I think it is a question asked honestly by a high school student who is not trying to game the system. I would not criticize him for phrasing his question by using the word “disadvantage”. IMO he did start out at a disadvantage and should be congratulated for his accomplishments.
My suggestion for the OP is to mention in an essay that you came to this country not fluent in English. I would not overly stress it. I would not use it as an excuse for anything. I think it will be viewed in a favorable light by the application readers.
@ucresearcher444 thanks! sorry, perhaps the way I phrase my question make it sound like I’m gaming the
system. (my english is pretty bad so I did not know the way I phrase my question would appear to be this way). Thanks for pointing it out for me. I honestly am not trying to game the system. I am just wondering if scholarships would be available. True, my parents earn ~200k - I know I am luckier than many others, and I am very grateful. But my parents will be paying for my sibling and my cousins’ college tuition simultaneously. I was hoping I could get scholarship to lower their burden and financial pressure. Sorry if i sounded ignorant @“aunt bea” @thumper1
Some schools (e.g., UT Austin) give a boost to students whose language spoken at home is not English. The intent of this criterion is to admit more hispanic students because they are underrepresented in number at the school.
http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/admission/undergraduate-admission/freshman-admission/
@GMTplus7 thank you so mcuh for the information!!!
It is your parent CHOICE to pay for a cousin to go to college. Keep in mind that need based aid will not be adjusted for this expense.
I would strongly suggest you NOT make your ESL status the focus of any of your essays. I’m sure you must have something better to write about.
As you can see from @GMTplus7 post…your ESL status isn’t exactly at the top of the list when evaluating your admissions application. It’s there, but there are six other things above it.