<p>So I heard elite colleges don't like kids from well off families. So if my dad is a manager for his company, should I just put manager (which is kinda of vague because manager ranges a lot) or should I put down something else like VP?</p>
<p>Put down your dad’s position. Elite colleges get apps from families of all financial backgrounds, including CEOs of major corporations, diplomats, elected officials, celebrities, plant managers from middle America, grocery store managers, parents who have been laid off during the recession, and everywhere in-between.
You need to sign your applications stating you’ve been truthful. While downgrading your fathers position probably wouldn’t be grounds for dismissal, it’s a silly thing to bend the truth on.</p>
<p>Btw, I answered your question in theory. Your post doesn’t make sense. If your perception is elite schools don’t like ‘well off’ families, and your dad is a manager, by writing he’s a VP (as you suggested), you’ve just given him a promotion, doing the exact opposite of what you said you were intending.</p>
<p>If you’re struggling with something as simple as whether to be honest about your dad’s job, maybe you’re not elite-college material. Just write down the facts, for Pete’s sake, and quit over-thinking.</p>
<p>I think OP may mean his/her dad is head of his company, maybe even owning it.</p>
<p>Top tier schools want students who could afford to pay and could donate to school, so it is not true that those schools do not want students from wealthy families. They don’t like students with sense of entitlement. There is a big difference.</p>
<p>In your application avoid writing about expensive family trips, extravagant gifts (sports car for 16th birthday, diamond earrings), parents paid volunter work(building house in Costa Rica).</p>
<p>Be honest. That is the only thing to do.</p>
<p>I agree with everything said but would add that you need to get new sources for your info as your initial premise is way off!</p>
<p>Your high school and address is likely to give away your socioeconomic background anyway.</p>
<p>And what’s with the screen name? A bit fixated on those “elite” colleges, are we?</p>
<p>“So I heard elite colleges don’t like kids from well off families.”</p>
<p>Just Be honest… But how do you think these schools funded their endowments… Sounds more like an Urban Legend than a fact to me…</p>
<p>If elite colleges don’t like kids with wealthy parents, why are there SO many such kids at my kids’ highly selective colleges??? 
</p>
<p>OP has it wrong. Kids from wealthy families are not an issue for adcoms. You’re not going to be marked down if your parents are wealthy (not your fault). Kids who have a sense of entitlement or use essays that reflect such things could be a problem, however. Don’t showcase privilege and affluence in the essays. “The day I got a dent in my Porche,” or “The day the hurricane wrecked our vacation at Club Med,” won’t do. :D</p>
<p>Adcoms at elite colleges, however, are looking for a diversity of backgrounds and so might seek students from impoverished backgrounds who are excellent candidates to round out the class. But they don’t put a “bad checkmark” on students from well to do backgrounds. You’ll find a variety of backgrounds at an elite college with much representation of wealthy kids and also kids who went to private schools.</p>
<p>Integrity, please.</p>
<p>Who the heck told you the obvious lie that elites don’t like affluent kids?</p>
<p>Who do you think donates big bucks to their schools? Affluent people.</p>
<p>Stop believing nonsense and be honest with your app.</p>
<p>Oh geez. Are you going to try to hide income on your FAFSA too?</p>
<p>The source for this rumor is “A Is for Admissions” by Michele Hernandez. Rachel Toors’ book gives much the same impression. </p>
<p>The only admissions officer I’ve ever discussed this with said it’s total nonsense.</p>
<p>It’s this way:</p>
<p>You come from a wealthy family, parents have a high-ranking position? Then you need great scores & grades, because you’ve been “given everything”. You need wonderful community service (to show you give back to the community). And you need lots of leadership, because…well, that’s what’s expected. Colleges will love you because you can afford it.</p>
<p>You come from a not wealthy family, 1st generation parents? Then you need wonderful scores & grades, and a terrific essay that explains your humble beginnings because you’ve been “given nothing”. You can’t fit community service into your daily schedule because you have a full time job. But your recs are outstanding because…well, you worked hard to overcome your obstacles. Colleges will love you because you’ll bolster their “diversity” element.</p>
<p>Notice: you still need good scores & grades.</p>
<p>^^^OK, so, to keep that going…what about kids like mine who don’t fit either extreme??:D</p>
<p>Er, Soozie, as the children of two professionals with graduate degrees, whose parents shlepped them miles every day to singing, dancing lessons, performances, ski races, etc. plus paid for the equipment, instruction, etc for years, you are surely not claiming that your kids suffered from under-parenting??? Plus summers? Your many fans here on CC are chuckling at the thought!</p>
<p>Don’t forget, when you are citing Michelle Hernandez on this point, that wealthy, privileged people are definitely HER target market. “As a wealthy, privileged person, your child is practically assured of rejection by Yale! Unless . . . you acquire the very best, most exclusive, and most expensive advice available on how she can overcome her ‘disability’. I’ll take that 3.9 GPA and 2300 SATs and get her into a good school, silver spoon and all!” It’s a less powerful pitch if there’s no discrimination against the wealthy.</p>
<p>Blossom, oh, believe me, my kids were not suffering in the slightest bit!! I AGREE! I simply meant they did not fit under limabeans’ “wealthy family, high ranking position,” or “first generation, humble beginnings, overcoming obstacles!” I just wanted to hear limabeans “blurb” for kids in the middle of those two extremes…like middle class, needing financial aid, with educated parents… or along those lines.</p>
<p>JHS, right, because if Michelle Hernandez claims that being wealthy is a strike against you in elite college admissions, that runs counter to her clients being wealthy (to afford her very high fees) who she also claims to assist in their gaining admissions to…elite colleges!</p>