<p>In a lot of the "Chances" posts, I've seen where people have stated each parent's education and job (ie: Dad got a PhD in Physics and works at...). I don't see how a parent's education/job can be a good indicator to colleges about a prospective student. Do such facts have any influence on a college's decision?</p>
<p>If you're a mediocre student but your dad works at McDonald's and your mom is a drug addict, and you had to support your family as well as go to school, or if your parents never went to college, that helps you.</p>
<p>haha nice scenario, futurenyustudent</p>
<p>Giving advantage to students' with unimpressive parents is one of the many perverse (and unnecessary) things admissions committees do to try "to be fair". Why not just make that one of the many, many things that are NOT considered--one way or another--in an ap.?</p>
<p>yeah .. both of my parents are doctors. this really really sucks in terms of having a life. they were literally, perfectionists, when they were in school and still are. it kiiiiilllllssss meeee</p>
<p>filler, it's not unnecessary. Most kids who have parents working as house cleaners means that they weren't really encouraged to do APs or go that extra step to be the best. They didn't have a lot of money, etc. they had to overcome maybe more obstacles than their fellow student. not being able to buy a prep book is a > disadvantage than not being able to buy a Mercedes SL-500.</p>
<p>If you put everyone in an equal footing, rich kids will populate the top colleges, and this will lose diversity, colleges will be battered for being "unfair and prejudiced toward those socioeconomically disadvantaged", etcetera. They have to consider those factors so they get an equal number of students from all areas, including those rural, poor disadvantaged kids of coal mine workers. it's hard to just disregard it.</p>
<p>"Most kids who have parents working as house cleaners means that they weren't really encouraged to do APs or go that extra step to be the best."</p>
<p>I don't think that's necessarily true, at all.</p>
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Giving advantage to students' with unimpressive parents is one of the many perverse (and unnecessary) things admissions committees do to try "to be fair". Why not just make that one of the many, many things that are NOT considered--one way or another--in an ap.?
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<p>I hope you don't even get accepted to community college for being so damn stupid.</p>
<p>If you have to baby sit your brothers so your mom can work a part time job during the afternoon after her first job in the morning to maintain the family should NOT be considered?</p>
<p>ARE YOU RETARDED?</p>
<p>This person has a circumstance where lack of EC involvement is not a choice of lazyness.</p>
<p>Lets compare it to the 250,000 income family that can afford a BMW for their daughter at 16 so she can joy ride. </p>
<p>THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE REASON FOR LACK OF ECs?</p>
<p>WOW.....you need to learn to think more logically if you don't see the difference in a lower GPA and lack of ECs in each circumstance.</p>
<p>IDK where you live, but not too many people with 250K incomes buy their kids Beamers, thats for sure. You need a bit more then that to afford everything in addition to a beamer.</p>
<p>No seriously, they really are disadvantaged to other richer kids.</p>
<p>"who needs college, your ma and pa didn't go to college, we ended up right here juss fine. just give ur ma and pa a hand after high school, help us take care of the rest of the family together. college? aint no one need any damn college"</p>
<p>if you think how could any parent possibly think that way, there are plenty, most of them poor.</p>
<p>while the rich kids have prep courses and private counselors to mentor them on how to get into an ivy league blah blah blah</p>
<p>Not all of us go on to the ivy leagues, nor do our parents expect us to. A horrible misconception there Sarorah....</p>
<p>yeah same here, i mean our income is technically above average (altho we have 8 ppl in the family), and we don't have prep classes/private guidance counselors. I'm just saying, those really rich kids that do have access to that, the "tips of the trade" already have an edge to the poor kids . . .</p>
<p>And as I said, not really. If anything, a kid who does well from an inner city school in Philly has an advantage over me.</p>
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Not all of us go on to the ivy leagues, nor do our parents expect us to. A horrible misconception there Sarorah....
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<p>I think you are a little slow. You fail to catch my blatant hyperbole and then you fail to realize the point sororah is emphasizing.</p>
<p>She is saying that if you are poor you USUALLY receive less support from within the family and are prone to opportunity disadvantage( in info, advice, and education).</p>
<p>I'm far from slow. I just know that people who make $250K dont buy their kids Beamers. I understand the point you are both trying to make, although they are both off by a lot.</p>
<p>my dad makes 250k and my parents dont even have a bmw let alone my sisters who can drive(my moms a stay at home by the way) he ownns a party rental business(a small one w/ 2 others)</p>
<p>the closest to a luxury car is the 99 lexus we got rid of last september we had it since it was new but my mom used it till its last leg(had a few accidents)</p>
<p>First generation college students are underrepresented at 4-year schools, especially those which are more selective. They are a population of interest.</p>
<p>yeah well we're not talking about 99 lexus, rather poor is more as having no transportation as your own and forcing to take the bus, etc. </p>
<p>jpod, I think if you were poor, you would understand how they're more at a disadvantage. no money for clothes, for cars, living in a trailer park, etc, and you still think they have no disadvantage . . please.</p>
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I'm far from slow. I just know that people who make $250K dont buy their kids Beamers. I understand the point you are both trying to make, although they are both off by a lot.
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<p>No point is off by a lot. I don't know where you get that statement from at all. They are both pretty much right on the mark and you certainly don't know more about this than I do. I live it so I don't speak from theory, I speak from real life experience.</p>
<p>My parents couldn't afford a computer at all when I was younger. If it hasn't been for the struggle of my mother to improve our lifestyle I don't know where we would be right now. You want more info I will give you insight via PM. I am not writing my autobiography in the forums.</p>
<p>I think ad committees should not favor the rich, the poor, the well-bred, the poorly-bred, or anyone else. Their job is not to be "fair" or "promote diversity". They are to pick the students who have the best chance for success at college. That is BEST demonstrated by high school grades, and by STANDARDIZED tests, that help a bit to level out the differences in rigor at various high schools. Just look at the NY Times article about the silly race to do more than the Jones's kid over the summer, so as to impress the ad committee. Kids and parents shouldn't stoop to that. Do your school work and do a small number of EC's or community service well for its own sake.</p>