<p>Well, that's why you have to prove to them you really worked. (not sure if it was mentioned before). write about it in an essay, a description on your resume, or even the additional info section.</p>
<p>What I was saying was that "employed at family business" means nothing in itself. "employed at microsoft" does. also does "worked for family doing ...etc". And my second reason was related to your official papers. Being employed requires a contract. Not having one could make adcoms double suspicious.</p>
<p>I honestly don't think admissions officers will count it against you if you worked for your dad's company and didn't get paid for it. I would recommend writing an essay about it if it was really important to you.</p>
<p>Also, I understand where you are coming from as far as thinking that adcoms might say that you "just got the job because it's a family business," even if you didn't. I worked construction for my dad 40 hrs/week the last two summers and I suspect they may think that I didn't really do anything, but I definitely worked hard (I chose to write my essays on other things though). Again, if you prove that you worked in your essay, I don't think they'll hold anything against you.</p>
<p>We own a business (farm). My kids have been working on the farm since they were very young (6 years old). Currently, when they work summers, we pay them an hourly wage. They work during the school year, too, but they don't receive a paycheck for that.</p>
<p>Having a family owned business is very different. Everyone pitches in because they are a part of the family, and sometimes, it takes everyone's effort to keep the business afloat.</p>
<p>Construction, you have wonderful work experience. AND, it appears that you have made a real contribution to your family. I can't see how this will be a negative.</p>
<p>"What I was saying was that "employed at family business" means nothing in itself. "employed at microsoft" does. also does "worked for family doing ...etc". And "</p>
<p>Not true at all. Frankly, no one knows what one did in a job anywhere unless one describes it.</p>
<p>"Work 40 hours a week during the summer, 20 hours a week during the school year as an administrative assistant for my family's construction business;" or "Work summers 40 hours a week and 20 hours a week during the school year as a crew leader for my family's construction firm."</p>
<p>"Had a 15 hour a week summer internship at Microsoft doing clerical work."</p>
<p>Also colleges are not going to require proof that you worked. Unless a red flag is raised on your application -- such as an essay in which you describe a summer spent traveling abroad when on another part of your app, you say you worked 40 hours a week all summer -- colleges will assume that of you say that you worked, you did.</p>
<p>
[Quote]
I am assuming that since you had to work for the family biz, your family is low income. The very top colleges like HPYS have a hard time attracting academically qualified low income students, so if you are low income, that's a plus, too.
[/Quote]
</p>
<p>My friend's family has a business and they are 'low income', too. They must have many tricks in place to show that they don't make any money, pay little tax, while living in a grand style! They get all the need-based aid in grants and means-based scholarship. A bit unjust, I feel.</p>