I am asian-indian, however, I will be the first generation to apply to US colleges.
My background is something that is interesting (according to my college advisor). I dont really know how to describe it in a formal, sympathetic way to reflect my unique character but I’ll give a quick synopsis to see if it is something that would stand out.
My parents had grown from very very impoverished societies and families and strove to get into Indian colleges. Finally, they left to come to America and both are working in great middle-class jobs. However, we have lived in apartment housing for all our lives as my parents wanted to provide the best academic endeavors for me.
As for my academic background which I mentioned- 1st generation to us colleges. I was born in India and Telugu was my first language until I arrived to the US when I was 6. I began in Catholic school from K-5 and then went to a small private school from 6-8 and then a Jesuit school in grade 9 before I went to an elite, promising boarding school with really rich, wealthy, preppy, students and a highly distinguished faculty. Untill then, I had been a top student and my grades were always 98s and Apluses. (This is the transition I want to highlight of my academic career to colleges). I guess at this school, currently, I had made a great difficult shift not only as a student but as an individual and lifestyle which really helped me become equipped for colleges.
Do you think I can make something out of this to write to colleges? It wont be any particular essay topic or anything but mereley an additional thing I want colleges to know. I guess the important thing that I want to emphasize is that I am not part of an Indian family that has been here for 20 years and have recently only been here.
<p>I don't think the premise is all that good, but I guess it all depends on the execution. You have to be very careful how you approach it, since you've been in private schooling all your life and the fact that you had to change yourself in an "elite, promising boarding school" doesn't really mean anything- high school is all about change, it's something we all go, unfortunately, we all don't have the support system offered to us by "elite, promising boarding schools." There are plenty of students who wished they lived in apartments, and many more who don't have parents with "good middle-class jobs."</p>
<p>"I guess at this school, currently, I had made a great difficult shift not only as a student but as an individual and lifestyle which really helped me become equipped for colleges." hmm.. I don't know what to make out of this, but I guess being around "really rich, wealthy, preppy, students" helped you prepare for college...?</p>
<p>The UC's offer a section for essays specifically for describing hardships. My english teacher told our class that every year she'd have all sorts of students try to write about hardships (because the students had thought that they were required to write about such a situation) like not making it into cheerleading, etc... but they really are just complaining about nothing...</p>
<p>If you want colleges to know that you're first generation, well, they'll know that by your personal background information when they see that your parents aren't from this country.</p>
<p>I'd pursue a whole different topic. Because compared to you, the rest of us can just write about something more tragic- yes, public school. </p>
<p>"I don't have to outrun the lion, I've just got to outrun you."</p>
<p>What you've described is not uncommon for immigrants. Your parents, not you, came from an impoverished background. You've had the advantage of their education and their devotion to your future. Compare your situation to a hardship case such as the child of a struggling single mom who was unable to finish high school herself. You haven't had it so bad, have you?</p>
<p>What you could write about is the things you've learned from your life experiences. For example: how is expressing yourself in Telugu different from doing it in English? What do you find unique about Indian-American society? How does it feel to go from being the top student in a school to being one of the pack? Show your powers of observation, and focus on something relevant to your life.</p>
<p>There is an essay floating around CC from a teen who connects with her distant, immigrant dad through the use of $5 for a video rental. She is able to convey so much through her observations about their relationship. See if you can find it and see what I mean. I believe the author's name is hnbui.</p>
<p>First generation US college, ummmm, the point is are your parents educated, not where? Live in one bedroom to send a child to privaye school? A choice, not a hardship. You need to visit my high school and meet kids who swam to get out of their countries, live in African Villages with little clothes working all day. Don't even try this as a hardship story, they'll be on the floor laughing.</p>
<p>As midwesterner has mentioned, your situtation is not uncommon at all. </p>
<p>As a matter of fact, I am in the same shoes as you right now; except my parents don't work middle-class jobs and still sends me to a private school. </p>
<p>How do you plan on writing about your high school transition? Too many people have gone through this phase...some even have gone through it more than twice</p>
<p>I don't think your story as an immigrant moving up in US society is at all compelling; after all, 80% of most Americans came from similar backgrounds at some point in their family history....parents arrive impoverished, struggle with menial jobs, sacrifice for their child to get well-educated, child goes off to college, makes bucks, invents something, wins Nobel prize, blah, blah...etc. etc.
The interesting story here would be (and it comes across a bit in your comments) how it was for you attending private schools with priviledged kids and returning home to your apartment and foreign parents who were obviously very different from other US kid's parents.....did they sacrifice to help you "keep up with the Joneses" in terms of clothes, accessories, lessons, trips? Or not? Did you feel excluded? Ashamed of your background? Cloistered? Do you speak English at home - if not, are you fluent in their laguages? Do you celebrate their customs and holidays or have you all become thoroughly American? That would make a much more interesting story if you keep it honest and simple.</p>
<p>Well I came to American when I was 5 years old and English became a second language to learn. I still speak with my native language, Telugu at home. I guess what I am saying is that when I am home, I am Indian, yet when I am at boarding school, I become American as I celbrate the country's traditions. So throughout the expereience of boarding school, a huge transition in my life, I was living in two mirrors. The adjustment was different going back home on vacations and then coming back to school really preppy. Yet, I maintained a set of values for each place to follow. So I guess I want your advice on this essay. It is just that I am not an asian indian aplying who has lived here for 20 years in the US but rather a bit over ten years. This will not be something I will write in my main essay but a supplementary, additional thing.</p>
<p>Med, all of us who attend a boarding school live "double" lives. I really wonder what it's like for many, especially poor, inner city kids who leave bucolic new england and return home summers. Those returning to an African village where few clothes are warn and secretly sewing hip boarding school clothes all summer with found scraps (happened)!</p>
<p>That said, I don't think that should be the "topic." Some aspect of your dual lives, maybe a particular experience, that brings out who you really are could work.</p>
<p>Med_TMuds: I came to the US when I was 12 and had to learn English from scratch as my third language. My parents' employer pays tuition for a private school where the majority of students' families make 5x the money we do. It's been a culture shock, sure, but hardship? No way.</p>
<p>"Those returning to an African village where few clothes are warn"
Suze, this sounds more like a western fantasy than a true story. believe it or not, but in Arfrica the natives don't dance around a fire naked! ;)</p>
<p>I know it's a long way from the upper East Side, but it really is worth a trip. I took one. I guess you'd be pretty shocked about how many people live in Africa (nor to mention many, many other countries). Also, 60 Minutes recently did a story about another girl from a nearby African village who went to Northfield. A goat was responsible...watch for reruns.</p>
<p>I've been honey, trust me, I'm well travelled. I was clarifying to you that in Africa people wear clothes, and they're not savages. I thought it wasn't quite fair that in your post you made a sweeping comment about Africans, and I wanted to clear things up for people who have not been. So... next time why don't you pause before you condescend to chalk me up as just another Park avenue princess. Okay?! :)</p>
<p>But I suppose I've veered form the topic at hand: to the OP - if you write a compelling essay about your dual identity, then maybe you could communicate the issues that you want to, but otherwise I'd say just leave it to the personal informtion section.</p>
<p>Guys, I'm not trying to propose ideas for you to bash out and make hyperbolic comparisions. Yes I have seen the 60 minutes episode and have seen the extremity of what you guys are talking about. And yes, I know that some people are far off worse. Yet, I am merely trying to draw out a uniqueness in myself because we all have our unique background that we can talk about and I am merely trying to draw something within myself to show colleges what I can bring to their community. I mean if it helps, I am the only Indian in my class and there are only about 5 Indians in my school of 600. And if it also helps, it is a boarding school where most of it is comprised of Greenwich, New Canaan, New York kids from the richest backgrounds. It is not as if I am going to my neighboring public school. I'm just presenting an idea and I was wondering what kind of essay I may formulate.</p>
<p>Good to know. I've been to many 'African Villages' - the difference? I actually know the names, as opposed to the vague term you seem so fond of using.</p>
<p>Okay I'm going to stop trying to enlighten you because you seem far more interested in relying on various stereotypes. I tried to have a civilized conversation but you seem more interested in a childish argument. The poor original poster of this thread must be scratching his head wondering what a cat fight has to do with his collge essay. </p>
<p>"Was it your 16th bday present?" - and for the record, no it wasn't. My sixteenth birthday present was a party at the Plaza Hotel for 150 of my closest friends. :)</p>
<p>Sorry Med, we've gotten way off course. I think the thing is, if you've see the 60 Minutes episode, you want to be very careful positioning yourself as unusual. I've come up against this too as a mixed race kid. No one thinks elite boarding school kids have many hardships, so you better be that girl from W. Africa if you're saying you're one with a truly unique set of circimstances.</p>
<p>Use how it makes you feel to write the essay to have so many active influences in your life. Good luck!</p>