My mom went to Eastern Michigan for one year, decided that college wasn’t for her, and didn’t return the next year. My dad never went to a college. I go to a public school in a rural community with about 100 students in my graduating class, and I take the most rigorous courses available. Next year, I will be taking a few AP courses online because they aren’t even offered at my school (only 5 are offered in a traditional classroom setting). My main questions are whether or not I am at a disadvantage due to my parents’ lack of education, and if the school that I attend will affect my application. I’m pretty sure no one from my school has ever made it to an Ivy. I would hope that the answers to these questions are a no, but some of the stuff that I have seen about “legacies” and “prep schools” are awfully frightening! Thank you in advance for your responses! :x
Where your parents went to college is irrelevant, unless of course, it was Harvard. Your mom went to
Eastern Michigan, so you don’t qualify as the first in your family to go to college. Your parent’s education is not a negative or a positive; it’s a neutral.
Where you go to school is, however, relevant. If your high school doesn’t send many student’s to Harvard, chances are they are not going to do so next year. That doesn’t mean you won’t get it, it just means you didn’t attend one of the chosen seven: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/12/13/making-harvard-feeder-schools/
You should check with the colleges you’re applying to what their definition of a first generation college student is. Some colleges define it as neither parent having “attended” college and other colleges see it as neither parent having “graduated” college. The latter would apply to you and would give you a slight boost at these colleges.
I think most colleges will be inclined to give her the “First Gen” consideration.
Your biggest disadvantage will be in not having a role model or advisor to give advice during all the steps. You’ll want to see if your HS counselor is up to it. Maybe there is a teacher or someone you know who could act as a mentor.
There’s no point in worrying about “legacy” or prep schools as they have nothing to do with you and your application.
However, I can’t answer your question, because I don’t know the admissions process (ill be applying in NOV) and my school has 10 kids a class and never sent a student to a state school, let alone an ivy league, let alone Harvard
Harvard is not a Questbridge partner but many fine colleges are, although you can apply to Harvard if you make questbridge finalist and it is a nice award. But Questbridge is for low income kids that usually have had hardship situation.