<p>Just curious how many of us there actually are. </p>
<p>1) How do you think being low-income has affected your education?
2) Which elite schools are you applying to (and if you care to elaborate, why?)?
3) Are your parents/school counselors/friends supportive of your elite school ambitions? Do they have faith you will get in?
4) Do you have faith you will get in?
5) Do your parents/counselors/friends know about the financial incentives at the elites?</p>
<p>i don't think many go on this site...F.Y.I....but maybe u can get up 2 70 answers.... that would be amazing.</p>
<p>I am one of them. My situation is even more complicated because I am from Romania, people around here don't know the policy of admission in the US, so I have to get all the information I need from the Internet or from friends who have tried and succeeded. My answer to your questions:
1) This hasn't affected my education so far. My family's income is somewhere around $20,000, but we have a decent life and we don't miss anything, even if we don't live in luxury. I haven't been going to a private school up to now and we receive free school books from the government(but we have to return them by the end of the school year). My family has always put our education first and they didn't make any financial compromise for other books we felt we need, some particular private lessons and transportation for going to school contests. I hope I can satisfy their sacrifices by receiving a full scholarship for college.
2) I am applying to the Ivyes, MIT and Caltech. I want to study physical sciences and i think these are very good and also prestigious. I hope at least one of them will accept me.
3) My mother is the only one who is skeptical about me going to college so far from home and from them. But since I know it's the best for me, she and everyone else believe I can make it, because I am determined to succeed. Ashley, I am the only one who is nervous about getting in, because the others don't know how hard it is. They think a successful kid will go anywhere, but I doubt they know that half or more of the successful kids from the world want to get in.
4) As i said, I am not 100% sure, but I believe in my chance. I have excellent academic results and I know people with the same results getting in one of the colleges above. However, I can't compare with them my ECs, my essays, my recommendations or the interview. These are the parts I am going to try to improve over the summer and the next year.
5) Yes, they do. I really hope to obtain a full scholarship, otherwise I doubt I can come in the US, even if I am accepted.</p>
<p>I'm also one of them, but I still have a couple years to go until I start applying to colleges.</p>
<p>angelutza: I wish you the best of luck! I'm from Hong Kong but I moved to the States when I was 4 years old. My family makes less than $20,000, but similar to your situation, we have a decent life which is all that I can ask for. If you're worried about finances, you might want to check out Rice because they're usually very generous with aid, even to foreigners. You might actually qualify for the Sarofim Scholarships (Full ride four years) and Edgar Odell Lovett Scholarships (Half ride). Both are aimed specifically for foreign nationals.</p>
<p>Wow, 5 people, that's a bigger turnout than I expected :D </p>
<p>CC seems so upper middle class and above</p>
<p>1) Low income has affected my education in that I've really been forced to be resourceful and independent. A lot of my friends signed up for SAT/ACT prep courses that cost upwards of $600. I bought a few books from Borders and had to study on my own. Naturally, they performed better than me on their exams, but I didn't do poorly myself. I have to say that it has limited my summer plans, as I don't have the money to pay for outside college programs. </p>
<p>2) I'm interested in Princeton and Stanford. Both schools have very strong creative writing tracks and most of the top 25 universities have strong English programs. I like Stanford's location and relaxed atmosphere. Princeton has the strongest financial aid program in the country; their need-based aid is very generous. </p>
<p>3) My counselor is certain that I will get in to a great school, perhaps not necessarily Princeton or Stanford. However, he liked my college list and is supportive. My parents think that I should be happy with just going to University of Chicago or Northwestern (both are great schools, by the way, perhaps not my first-choices).</p>
<p>4) I don't think I'd really get in, but I hope that I will get into at least University of Chicago. I really want to go to Princeton and I will be a little hurt if I don't get in, but that's just how admissions are. I am hopefully going to be applying through QuestBridge, which might help a little in getting noticed.</p>
<p>5) My counselor certainly does. That's part of the reason he wants me to aim really high. He and I agree that it is probably not worth it to aim lower (especially if I'm not going to get good need-based aid).</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I go to an Elite Public High School. I think my GPA and rank have taken a hit. I work (almost daily), plus most of my classmates are from the one of the most affluent parts of the state so they can afford Tutors and have had a better foundation in Middle School (I came from a Middle School where >60% of the class scored Basic on the Math Section of the State Standardized Test)</p></li>
<li><p>No idea if I'll apply to Elite Schools or not - Depends on your definition of one I guess. I'm only a rising Sophomore so too early ....</p></li>
<li><p>My Parents and a few Friends are somewhat supportive but my Parents think I'd succeed wheter I go to a State School or an Ivy.</p></li>
<li><p>Hahahahahahahaha No.</p></li>
<li><p>My parents know that "smart kids get scholarships". That's about it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I'm a recent immigrant - been 3 years and I'm completely new to the College Admissions process (I didn't even know I was taking an AP Class - Didn't even know what an AP Class was, till I came onto CC and began doing my own research).</p>
<p>My parents are Korean immigrants, but we, their children, are American-born. I'm sure how uch we make, but it's <$40,000 for a fact.</p>
<p>1) Honestly, low income hasn't really affected my schooling. Sure--I wasn't able to go to a fancy-pancy private school, but I think the public school system here (NY) is very good. Heck, my mom ever went out of her way to make sure we got extra SAT prep classes and fun experieinces over the summer. We don't live in luxery, but my parents have done everything they could financially do to give us a good (academic) life.</p>
<p>2) I definately plan on going to an elite school. Right now, Georgetown is at the top of my list. :D I don't think I'd care for "above-average," because, growing up in a Confucious household, it was drilled into me that I HHADD to go to a "good" school. Oh, and I enjoy humanties more than sciences if you were wondering why I like Gtown.</p>
<p>3) YES! My parents want me to get into the best place possible, My friends and counselor have no doubt that I'd be able to get into a top school. They believe in me, but my mom plays devils advocate just in case.</p>
<p>4) Yes, I do.</p>
<p>5) My momma does. She sent my older brother to JHU and he great a great grant. She hopes that financial aid will come through for me too.</p>
<p>I'm a year ahead of you guys, but I think my post might still apply:</p>
<p>1) How do you think being low-income has affected your education?</p>
<p>Not a whole lot, because resources were still readily available to me. No tutors or prep classes... not sure that they would've made a difference anyway. I missed out on some expensive school trips, though. And I don't get to drive because we can't pay for the car insurance spike : P</p>
<p>2) Which elite schools are you applying to (and if you care to elaborate, why?)?</p>
<p>Like I said, I already applied, to Cornell, because it was my dream school. And it happens to be very close to home.</p>
<p>3) Are your parents/school counselors/friends supportive of your elite school ambitions? Do they have faith you will get in?</p>
<p>Yeah, they did. We immigrated here, and my parents went to community colleges in Asia, so they weren't very familiar with college admissions here, but they knew I tried hard in school. I got most of my college knowledge from friends and college confidential. </p>
<p>4) Do you have faith you will get in?</p>
<p>I thought it could go either way, but I got in.</p>
<p>5) Do your parents/counselors/friends know about the financial incentives at the elites?</p>
<p>They didn't; at first they thought they were going to have to take out like 50k/yr in loans to send me to college. I just told them that I'd get a lot of financial aid, and they trusted me, haha.</p>
<p>Well I've already gone through college apps and stuff, but anyway, I had to go through my dad's taxes for fin aid, so yeah, we make less than <45</p>
<p>1) How do you think being low-income has affected your education?
Not much, I mean I grew up in Northern NJ in an middle-upper/upper-lower class town, so the education was definitely pretty strong for the most part though our town's education has been in a serious decline in recent years.</p>
<p>2) Which elite schools are you applying to (and if you care to elaborate, why?)?
Applied to an assortment of Ivies, techs, and LAC's, and though we don't have much money my parents and I both thought it would be best to apply to a good amount of colleges (regardless of the application fees) because the financial aid would definitely compensate if I were to go to a good college.</p>
<p>3) Are your parents/school counselors/friends supportive of your elite school ambitions? Do they have faith you will get in?
For the most part they were very supportive, and they thought I could get in.</p>
<p>4) Do you have faith you will get in?
Not as much faith as my friends, but I managed in the end.</p>
<p>5) Do your parents/counselors/friends know about the financial incentives at the elites? Yep, main reason I applied to so many.</p>
<p>And trust me, there is a large amount of kids who are low-income going to strong colleges, personally my main group of friends is generally lower income kids like myself (though that's not why we're friends), so yeah...</p>
<p><em>raises hand</em></p>
<p>1) It's driven me to do better and build a better life for myself and the people around me.
2) UChicago, Stanford, Yale, UMich, Amherst, Brown, Notre Dame, UPenn, USoCal, UVa, UW-Madison
3) My teachers are extremely supportive. My parents are very hesitant about me venturing anywhere farther than a 3 hour radius, but I've made it clear that I'll go to wherever will get me the best education and experience. If they don't like it, sucks for them, it's my life.
4) I have faith I'll get into UChicago, UMich, and UW-Madison. The others are all wishes that I'd be very grateful to get into.
5) Some know, some don't.</p>
<p>Tony, how many colleges did you apply to?</p>
<p>I'm not quite low income but even summer programs and SAT prep classes are a stretch for me. Even if you're not low income, $3000 classes at a university or a Leadership Forum is not something easily met.</p>
<p>1) How do you think being low-income has affected your education? Alot, i can't really have any prep for anything, but i try my best.
2) Which elite schools are you applying to (and if you care to elaborate, why?)? HYPS are the top of what i am applying to
3) Are your parents/school counselors/friends supportive of your elite school ambitions? Do they have faith you will get in? yes, but my mom doesn't really want me to leave.
4) Do you have faith you will get in? Yes.
5) Do your parents/counselors/friends know about the financial incentives at the elites? Yes.</p>
<p>I applied this year and am low-income.</p>
<ol>
<li>Less resources. Less knowledgeable about college admissions and such because I wasn't exposed to it at all and had to find out on my own.</li>
<li>HYPS and I got into Y and S.</li>
<li>Yes, but I doubted myself the most.</li>
<li>I did not.</li>
<li>Yes.</li>
</ol>
<p>1) How do you think being low-income has affected your education?-<br>
Not only being low income but being an URM and first generation in the IB program is not too easy. A lot of my peers have brothers and sisters that went<br>
2) Which elite schools are you applying to (and if you care to elaborate, why?)?
3) Are your parents/school counselors/friends supportive of your elite school ambitions? Do they have faith you will get in?
4) Do you have faith you will get in?
5) Do your parents/counselors/friends know about the financial incentives at the elites?</p>
<p>Disregard the other one
1) How do you think being low-income has affected your education?-
Not only being low income but being an URM and first generation in the IB program is not too easy. A lot of my peers have brothers and sisters that went through the program so they get extra help and such, plus they have access to a lot more resources- had to sacrifice for a 100 prep class, and had to save lunch money to but SAT 2 books.
2) Which elite schools are you applying to (and if you care to elaborate, why?)? Im applying to HYPS and probably Columbia- most of them through Questbridge....
3) Are your parents/school counselors/friends supportive of your elite school ambitions? Do they have faith you will get in?- My mom does, my counselor does, some teachers really don't want me too because Im not the teacher's pet type of kids, and some teachers have said that I will get in just because Im black.
4) Do you have faith you will get in? Yes, for sure.
5) Do your parents/counselors/friends know about the financial incentives at the elites? I know and Ive shared with my mom.</p>
<p>Wow, this is it? All of the low-income kids on CC? Let's get to know each other then :)</p>
<p>1) How do you think being low-income has affected your education? </p>
<p>Not a lot, just no prep stuff like some of my friends</p>
<p>2) Which elite schools are you applying to (and if you care to elaborate, why?)?</p>
<p>Hopkins at the top</p>
<p>3) Are your parents/school counselors/friends supportive of your elite school ambitions? Do they have faith you will get in?</p>
<p>Yes. No. </p>
<p>4) Do you have faith you will get in? </p>
<p>Um.........ask me that in about.... April...</p>
<p>5) Do your parents/counselors/friends know about the financial incentives at the elites? </p>
<p>Yes.</p>