<p>There are couple of hooks in the realm of college admission like URM (Under Represented Minority), Recruited Athletes, Olympiad Winners, etc. Does being a first generation US college applicant count as one? My father and mother are from Afghanistan and my dad worked very VERY hard to get us out of there when I was one year old. I spent most of my life in the Canada and the US because of this, but no one in my immediate family has gone to college in the US (My mother didn't go at all and my father struggled with his education). Can this be considered a hook? My dad earns approx. 110k a year in the US and I go to a private boarding school with heavy financial aid.</p>
<p>First Gen is usually not a “hook” in that colleges are looking to attract them when found. However 1st Gen can be a tip factor, if many other things look in order. </p>
<p>Agree with above, but your family situation seems VERY compelling, if you can tie it into some sort of essay about it changes you or your perspectives.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies, but does this actually count as being first gen in the US? I mean my dad technically went to college, but it sure as hell wasn’t Harvard in Afghanistan and it was difficult for him to pay for it. My mother comes from a fairly wealthy family, but some women in Afghanistan and other Islam orientated countries don’t go to college either out of fear (because of stupid extremists) or the traditional belief that only men should be educated (However this is RAPIDLY changing!)</p>
<p>Well I think it helps that you are from the middle east because that is very under-represented in top colleges. Of course you still need good test scores, challenging courses, and some solid ECs. I don’t know what year you are in and it could be too late but do some volunteer work for Afghanistan. Just be sure to tie everything into you essay.</p>
<p>In the application, it will usually ask for the education levels of your parents, and the schools itself will decide based on its own criteria on whether you actually are first generation.</p>
<p>I would say that you probably aren’t, but this background seems to me to be more compelling than a regular first-generation.</p>
<p>Sorry, I have to disagree with HappyHelper. You have been raised since you were 1 year old in Canada and the USA, and your family has a 110k income. The struggles of leaving AFghanistan were your parents struggles, not yours. Your father has a college education and you attend a private boarding school. No, you have no hook nor tip.</p>
<p>Country of education does not matter; your father has a degree from somewhere and as such, you are no longer first generation. Any possible trace of 1st gen benefits were killed by your private boarding school status.</p>
<p>I think that if you wrote about your parent’s experiences it could come off negatively. The school wants to know about YOUR experiences and who YOU are. You were a child when you left, and you seem to live in privileged circumstances now, if your parents can send you to a private boarding school. Write about yourself.</p>
<p>If you discuss your parent’s experiences the focus must be how your life, your view of the world etc. has been impacted by your family history. Colleges want to learn about you, not your parents from the essay. </p>