<p>On almost every application, they ask for your mother's and father's education (w/ specific colleges) as well as company, company title.</p>
<p>My father was educated as lawyer (more specifically, he received his LLM from NYU Law, in addtion to a JD from Lewis & Clark Law), but then got into business, and is now CEO of a cell phone company.</p>
<p>This makes me look like a very privileged kid, since our net income is high, I'm not applying for financial aid, and my parents look super-education focused. In Hernandez's book, she claims that when looking at your parent's education and occupation, if you come from a rich/successful/educated family, there may be a) bias, b) an increase in expectations (i.e. they expect better test scores, grades, etc.)</p>
<p>How do I eliminate any bias? It wouldn't be difficult if I could tell them about my dad's life (born on a military base to a low-income family, went to Bellevue Community College, then went to a state school and working his butt off to enter law school). He's a regular horatio alger, and never made it easy sailing for me either (I thank him for it, it's made me a better person): I don't wear fancy clothes, I go to a public school, I never got a hired tutor (or any tutor, for that matter), etc.</p>
<p>How do I counteract any assumptions admissions officers might make when they see two law degrees and a CEO position for my dad? How do I convey to them, subtilely, that I'm not tenth-generation money whose had his entire life handed to him?</p>
<p>you can't do anything about it. My dad came to America with 300 dollars and got successful. He has his own company and makes a lot of money. I can't do anything about it. Unless you can screw your up your dad's income, there is nothing you can do. You can't write a biography of your dad's life to show how he came to be the successful man he is. All you can do is, do your best and see what happens.</p>
<p>are yo ureally going to degrade yourself for college? That is absoluely ridiculous. Tell the truth, do your best, and hope for the best. First time I have ever met someone who tries to look poor and underpriveledged for college.</p>
<p>maybe talk about how your dad has taught you good moral principals in the interview. i'm sure they too will be bias as the adcoms. just be honest.</p>
<p>Do you really have to state that he's a CEO? I remember in Hernandez's book when she said to just write that your father was a lawyer instead of partner. Maybe you can just note that your dad is a businessman or company executive. </p>
<p>I'm not sure if this ploy could get you in trouble, but it's not like you're lieing about anything.</p>
<p>I always tell people to only worry about the things they can control. Get good grades, do well on the SAT and it wont matter whether your parents are bums or CEO's.</p>
<p>you shouldnt have to "hide" it. most schools arent going to put you at a disadvantage because you are privileged. if you have competitive stats like daavidav said, you will be fine.</p>
<p>rExRuN467, shrek2004, davidav87 make excellent points. rexrun467 is a little harsh on his wording but what hes saying is pretty true. davidav makes a good point that what you can control matters more than what you can't control.</p>
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<p>First time I have ever met someone who tries to look poor and underpriveledged for college.<<</p>
</blockquote>
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<p>Happens all the time on UC apps. One of the essay prompts asks you describe what sorts of adversities you have had to overcome in your life. This question is often viewed as a surrogate for Affirmative Action, which is not allowed in state school admissions in CA.</p>
<p>Just go with my foolproof plan: If they ask about adversity, I'm going to tell them about the time that my sailboat mast broke off in Nantucket and my Tag-Heuer fell in the ocean into the infinite abyss, then, when I got back home the hot tub was broken. Surefire way to avoid looking like a spoiled brat. Clearly I'm kidding but honestly, don't worry about it, it shouldn't have that much effect, but I would stay away from essays about skiing in Beaver Creek or Sun Valley.</p>
<p>Seriously, it's like trying to give yourself URM status to gain an edge in admission. If you aren't accepted, it won't be because you're too rich.</p>
<p>Without knowing a thing about your every day life, where you live or what level of luxury you enjoy, I think that I can still safely say that you *did[i/] get something extremely valuable from your Dad: an outlook on life. A view that you can succeed. A desire to go to business school; the self-confidence (and time) to study Italian on your own with your brother; the impetus to be researching your essay since you were 12.</p>
<p>Recognize that that outlook and upbringing *is[i/] privilege. Often people get confidence from money and security. Your dad ~and perhaps you ~ have gotten it from within. You are privileged to come from that sort of background which many kids, regardless of their income level might not have. If you really feel you need to, then capitalize on that: let the schools know from your activities and life that you have inherited that same drive and outlook. Like your dad you don't passively take what you've been given for granted but you take your outlook and push the boundries.</p>
<p>If that's bias....it will be a bias in your favor.</p>
<p>To the OP's original point, don't worry about it - if you deliver the goods with respect to stats, ECs,and essays, you'll get into plenty of good schools even though your parents are well-educated and prosperous. I worried about this when my daughter was applying. She hadn't faced any big adversities. I felt like her parents' education was an unfair burden that might be held against her. But it turned out to not be much of an issue as far as I can tell. She didn't get into every school, but she had many fine acceptances from which to choose.</p>
<p>Believe me, in general when it comes to getting into college, you are far better off to have had educated and prosperous parents. Without them you very well might not even be thinking about college right now.</p>