<p>I have heard that individuals that come from lower income families have an advantage in admissions, even if they're not URM. However, since many Ivies and other top colleges(MIT, Stanford) are need blind, how would they know that you come from a low income family?
If you didn't apply through a program like Questbridge, how would they know?
Can they determine that through your parents' occupations and level of education?</p>
<p>Yes, parent’s jobs, zip code, demographics of high school, fact that you may have had after school jobs…many things.</p>
<p>After school work is a biggie for low-income students. Since some low-income students work a lot, it’s clear on the application. 25 hours a week during the school year and up to 40 during the summer isn’t usually something a student does for spending money. Some low-income students also write about their socioeconomic status in their essays (or it comes out), as well as, of course, all of hmom5’s factors. For example, I put down that my mom is a paraprofessional, my mom is a single parent, and I work 25 hours a week during the school year and more in the summer. I also wrote about it in my essays. It’s pretty clear. Also, if you have done a lot of travelling, go to a private school, or have expensive ECs, the adcoms are flagged that you are probably a middle or upper income student.</p>