<p>My mom was born in France and never went to college, my Dad, however, went to some lame school here in California. I've always heard being a first generation student could help. Is there any way they can see where your parents went to school if I just say that they never went?</p>
<p>Don’t do it. They will know. Don’t ask me how they’ll know. JUST DON’T DO IT!!!</p>
<p>haha, I would really like to know how though!</p>
<p>They aren’t going to have access to say, secret CIA files on your parents that say everything they’ve done in their lives, but it IS possible that they’ll find out. Your father’s employment history might involve a workplace which only hires college graduates, he might have an alumni donation write off in his tax records, etc…SOMETHING might indicate that he went to college. The marginal gain you might receive by lying isn’t nearly worth what you could lose if you’re caught.</p>
<p>…and note that issues could arise even after you’re accepted (if you’re accepted) once they find out you lied.</p>
<p>Well, my father majored in political science, and ended up starting his own water treatment company, so that isn’t an issue. But, you’re right, it’s not worth taking the risk</p>
<p>If your father went to “some lame school,” it’s almost as if he didn’t go to college at all. There’s a big difference between a parent having gone to Harvard and to, say, Podunk College in East Podunk, CA. So tell the truth. The truth still makes a difference.</p>
<p>pretty sure it’s actually BETTER when your parents go to a “lame” school. It shows your breaking family molds.</p>
<p>Too bad for me, both my parents have doctorates (dad PhD, mom MD).</p>
<p>haha, yes too bad for you…</p>
<p>It’s not worth lying about. It’s not a hook that applies to you, so don’t worry about it. It’d be good to show how you’re on a path to be more successful than your parent, who didn’t go to a good college.</p>
<p>Being first gen will not help much anyway unless it’s accompanied by being minority/inner city/poor.</p>