I am a First Generation Chinese Immigrant. Help/Hinder?

My mother (Chinese) emmigrated from Asia about 20 years ago. I’m trying to figure out if addressing this fact in my essay would help or hinder my applications?

Asians are already over represented, and i’m afraid colleges I apply to (UCB/LA, Cornell, CMU, MIT,Caltech) will see it and say “Oh crap…another ASIAN IMMIGRANT…REJECT.” On the other hand, it can open up quite a few topics that I want to discuss on my essays.

Honestly, I want to address this because of the topics I wish to discuss…but I don’t want to do so if it could hinder my apps. It it has a neutral or positive affect on them, i’d love to do it. Just want some input.

<p>1st generation always helps.</p>

<p>I don't think it will do much for you because there are lots of kids of first generation immigrants of all kinds, including Chinese, applying to top ranked colleges. I think that the colleges are flooded with essays from such teens who write about how they are inspired to achieve because of their parents' challenges in coming to this country and working hard to make a way for their kids. </p>

<p>IMO the topic has become one to avoid just as is true of topics about "my big game," and "what I learned from my deceased grandparent." Certainly there are some people who are able to address these overworked topics in a fresh way, but that's very rare.</p>

<p>it is probably best to emphasize yourself over your parents but it wouldn't hurt to give the topic its mention out of respect.</p>

<p>Wow Northstarmom, you gave the MAJOR Heisman to this subject pretty harshly...</p>

<p>"Asians are already over represented, and i'm afraid colleges I apply to (UCB/LA, Cornell, CMU, MIT,Caltech) will see it and say "Oh crap...another ASIAN IMMIGRANT...REJECT."</p>

<p>I'm sorry, i dont think addressing that u r a first generation immigrant would affect much. My friends and I, who all came to US 2 years ago, are treated equally as other domestic students. being asian does give you a lot of disadvantages. especially Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. My other friend, who is a mongolian, just got in Stanford, he is the first mongolian stanford undergraduate student in history of MAN. (he got in w/ a SAT of 1300 and SAT 2 writing of 510) pretty low.huh? but...he's mongolian. if u r from some obscure country, u have big chance.</p>

<p>but, Chinese? OUCH</p>

<p>your mother came here 20 years ago, what are you complaining about?
you should be treated as a domestic!, but anyway, being chinese, big disadvantage, unless...
say you are from the himalayas :)</p>

<p>I'm not complaining, and I don't even want to use it as an advantage. I just want to know if mentioning it would hurt me in any way.</p>

<p>It's basically a neutral factor unless you have something truly unusual related to your family's immigrant experience.</p>

<p>I thought it is unlawful to apply race as a factor in college admissions.</p>

<p>I dunno guys, I'm thinking there might be a slight advantage if ur a first generation student. The adcoms might overlook a slightly below average verbal/writing score and such, attributing it to the fact that ur parents are not proficient at English. In my case for example (I'm a first generation Chinese male), I had a 690 verbal score on the SAT which is in the lower range for both Duke and Brown, two places where I was admitted. I always heard from my teachers and such that since I was AZN, I needed like 1500+ scores which is simply not true.</p>

<p>When it comes to HPYS and similar schools, there are many Asian applicants whose parents are immigrants. I don't live in a place in which there are many Asians, yet I estimate that about 1/4 of the applicants each year from my small city are Asian and at least half of them have immigrant parents.</p>

<p>I've seen Asians whose parents do not speak good English have SAT v scores in the 700s.</p>

<p>Yes, many students of immigrant parents do have 700+ verbal scores, I'm simply saying that if one doesn't, it isn't a huge disadvantage b/c the adcoms will understand that a possible reason is b/c the parents are not native speakers.</p>

<p>To be honest 1st generations does better then those who are born here. Why? Because they are still influenced by the tough schedules of their natives countires and will continue to work diligently. On the other hand most Americans are too lackadasical (sp? please) and don't realize the pressure that asian students face in their countries. I mean, how many ppl here will study from 5 (rightafter school) all the way to 2am each day? I am not talking bout the top students, almost everyone is so completely dedicated to his/her education...</p>

<p>First generation is such an annyoing term. Dictionary.com lists the definition as:</p>

<ol>
<li>Of or relating to a person who has left one country and settled in another.</li>
<li>Of or relating to a person or persons whose parents are immigrants.</li>
</ol>

<p>That Clearly defines people that move here AND their kids. ***.</p>