Parent Immigration: Are chances raised or lowered?

Applying to College
1

<p>I was just wondering... If my parents emigrated to America, will my chances of getting into an ivy league rise or lower?</p>

<p>Both of my parents were born and raised in India. They were arranged at ages 25 and 26. Later on, they emigrated to America twenty years ago for a better living. They never had the chance to attend college though. So of course, I'm sure most immigrant parents want their child to succeed and live a life that they were unable to live (at least for me, that is). I was born in Ohio and may be the first one in my family to enroll in an undergraduate and graduate school. Will this raise my chances of getting into the Ivys, such as Harvard (first choice) or University of Pennsylvania? Also, what ethnicity should I fill in for my application? I've heard stories about Asians being discriminated by the Top Unis. Should I just put in ''White''?</p>

<p>Also, this is a little out of place but should I write about my parents immigrating here on my college essay?</p>

2

<p>Immigration will not impact your college decisions. There are so many immigrant kids in the US, it doesn’t differentiate you. The pool of Indian applicants is huge, so this does have impact. You’re not white, so don’t lie.</p>

3

<p>Double-check the wording for the race/ethnicity questions. Usually you can just skip them if you don’t feel like self-identifying as anything.</p>

<p>You are first generation to attend college. That will not get you in any place that you aren’t fully qualified to attend, but it may tip you into the Yes pile from the Maybe pile.</p>

<p>It is fine to write about your family’s immigration experience if you want to. After all, this is your story as well as theirs.</p>