Does not having college educated parents really help me?

<p>I will make this short and sweet so as not to bore you, I am a student who has been on a strong steady upward swing since my disastrous 9th grade year, It was indeed a bad year but suddenly the "switch went on" and in 10th grade I did much better, this year I am a partial IB program with all A's and B's, and my practice seated SAT practice tests are all hovering around the 2050-2100 mark at this point. I have good strong ec's and will get good recs from teachers who know me well. In short the schools I would have thought of applying to in 9th grade have dramatically shifted to reflect a higher caliber school which I feel I am NOW fit to attend, I am hoping the schools will realize this too! I have heard talk about if one has parents who were not college educated such is the case with my mom and dad, does this really give me some advantage? I am curious, I am looking to apply to top tier schools, (maybe even an ivy as a rediculous never will happen reach but hey you will never know if you don't try kind of thing). I am curious for any of you who might know if this does in fact help my chances, because I need all the help I can get:) Thanks.</p>

<p>no chance man u have to have college educated parents to go to college...didnt ur guidance counselor tell u about that. why would it give u an advantage.</p>

<p>Don't get your hopes up on the Ivy League. High GPA's are all good and fine, but they usually want at least 1400 CR + M as well as really good leadership positions and obvious passion for a desired major. You can get into top 50 schools I'm sure, but I'd say don't apply to more than 1 Ivy.</p>

<p>Also, westsidewolf doesn't know what he's saying. No advantages for first generation college student. Only advantages for low-income or underrepresented minority first generation college student.</p>

<p>yes i do ur lying clove</p>

<p>You can use a First Generation College Student as a hook but you still need good SAT scores and GPA. It will not get you into college but it can help.</p>

<p>Westsidewolf, I am assuming your comment was a tasteless joke. To everyone else of course I know you must have a good GPA and strong SAT's, both of which I have, but for some of my reach schools, my advisor said this can often be a tipping factor, being the first in my family to attend college, she also said generally the higher tier colleges reflect on this a bit more than the lower tier. I think it goes without saying I need good gpa's and good sat's, but curious as to that does sometimes work in my favor and from what I have gathered, it just may even a little.</p>

<p>Miami University in Ohio lists '1st generation student' as a factor considered in their admission decisions.</p>

<p>1st generation is a hook, don't listen to the haters btw, they don't want you to apply to the ivies so there will be less competition for them.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>thanks doctorsboy.........I had a feeling those telling me this were "in the know" and lose nothing by my applying albeit to the reaches. I am sometimes so surprised by the negative vibes some are so great at giving, creepy. Thanks!!:)</p>

<p>It isn't quite a hook, but it still does help, just not as much as other make it out to.</p>