<p>How much of a hook is being both FG and Low-income?
Is it equivalent to legacy, being URM?
Can people who were both post some stats?</p>
<p>I'm not sure that the "hook" concept is apt for admission to Harvard, with its huge number of applications and consequent low base acceptance rate. </p>
<p>I personally think Harvard is in complete earnest in desiring to enroll more low-income, first-generation college students than it has over most of my lifetime, but I don't know of any examples yet personally. For the reason I gave above, and simply because Harvard doesn't publish statistics that would allow calculating what gives an applicant the best odds for admission, I refuse to hazard a guess about how much such a background might influence your chance of admission. </p>
<p>The best way to know your chances is to apply. If you are low-income, so that the application fee seems like a lot of money (as it did to me, years ago), then try to obtain a fee waiver through your high school counselor. Apply for sure if you want to have a chance to be admitted. Apply somewhere else if you apply to Harvard--the odds are long. If you are a current junior (11th grader), you should definitely look into the QuestBridge process </p>
<p>QuestBridge</a> Home Page </p>
<p>for applying to other colleges. (The QuestBridge process has one stage that allows making BINDING applications before even the official early round to certain colleges, but you wouldn't want to do that if you want to apply to Harvard. The QuestBridge process has an earlier stage that identifies "finalists," and I would expect QuestBridge finalists to fare well in Harvard admission, although nothing is guaranteed for anyone in a highly selective admission process.) </p>
<p>Good luck in your applications.</p>
<p>thank you tokenadult for the deep and insightful post.
my nerves are really running high after i submitted my app
I was too late for the questbridge program but i did request a fee waiver</p>
<p>Good luck. Yeah, I saw the "2013" in your screen name after I already wrote the advice for juniors. You'll get your news after what seems like a LONG time; best wishes during the wait.</p>