<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I had a few questions regarding how being the first generation to go to college helps with college admissions. Does it only weigh in ones favor if they are lower income, or are an URM?</p>
<p>I am white with a household income of 200k+, but i am still the first generation to go to college in my family. Will it still help?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s a slight consideration b/c some schools want SES diversity. However, your family income may dilute any “first generation” tip factor you may have rec’d. regardless, most colleges will ask the education level of your parents. List it and see what happens. It’s not as if you can change anything one way or another.</p>
<p>It should help to its fullest at need-blind colleges. Admission officers won’t know about the $200k when they see that you checked “first generation.” Only the financial aid office will know this. Admissions might assume that you’re low income, but it’s their choice to go for the stereotype. Your income doesn’t change the fact that you’re the first in your family to attend college.</p>
<p>The point of colleges giving special consideration to 1st gen college students is to break the cycle of poverty. </p>
<p>There is no “1st gen” box to check, like the race box, but colleges can get a good idea from your school profile and/or zip code what your socioeconomic class is. If you live in a posh zip code and make a big deal about being 1st gen, you run the risk of schools thinking you are mocking them.</p>
<p>^ There isn’t a box, but they do ask about his parents’ education level, where he’ll select “high school diploma” for both. He probably shouldn’t write an essay about it, though.</p>
<p>There was a family at our most upscale public HS with a live-in maid. The URM maid was a single mom with one child, and living in the tiny cottage on the same property as the main home was part of her compensation. Because of her address, the maid’s child always attended the neighborhood’s excellent public schools. I always wondered if the college admins would be scratching their heads when this kid applied to colleges. He is a URM, has a single mom, first generation college attendee…and living in a very high-end zip code. Will they think the maid is lying about her income?</p>
<p>^ Huh…Likely not, after they read on financial aid forms that she doesn’t own the house nor rent it.</p>
<p>You bring up a good point. Admissions could think he were lying about being 1st gen, but they should know that it is possible to be well off without a college degree, even if it doesn’t happen that often. It’d only be an issue if they decide to look up where he lives (if he even lives somewhere upscale, might not be the case), since income isn’t seen by admissions. But he can’t say his parents have degrees when they don’t. </p>
<p>Don’t the apps ask parents’ occupation? </p>
<p>Non-college occupation does not equate to poor. When was the last time u had to call a plumber?</p>
<p>“Don’t the apps ask parents’ occupation?”</p>
<p>True, I’d forgotten about that. </p>
<p>“Non-college occupation does not equate to poor.”</p>
<p>Right. The occupation question should make this clear. Good for the OP, since it confirms he’s telling the truth -that his parents have no degrees but still live well. The OP should answer all questions honestly, and let the chips fall where they may. </p>