Will strong connections to another university hurt me in admissions?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey everyone.
I live in Houston and both of my parents teach at Rice University. All fine and dandy, right?
Except - on the Common App, there is a page for information about parents, including their employer.
For the moment I've filled it out, but I need a second (third, fourth, fifth!) opinion.
First of all, how common/necessary is it to fill this part of the application out? As far as I know, it is optional, right?
Secondly - will showing other places that I have ties to Rice hurt me in admissions? I mean, it could lead them to believe that I'm likelier to accept an admissions offer from Rice than from somewhere else, and I'm well aware that some places want to protect their yield.
So basically: is it okay to leave it, or should I choose not to respond to that field?
Thanks.</p>

<p>PS: I am NOT likelier to accept the offer from Rice. I'm the typical rebellious teenager - get away from home! :P</p>

2

<p>Where does it say that the section is optional? It looks like it is required.</p>

3

<p>There are some sections with a yellow dot next to them, which I took to mean that those were required, whereas those without the dot weren’t.
Also, what if your parents are unemployed? You can’t really fill out the form in that case. Or maybe you just put ‘none’?</p>

4

<p>I think admissions officers know that more often than not that if both of your parents teach at University X, University X will not be your first choice.</p>

5

<p>Yes. This came up when we hired a private college counselor. Our kids were legacies at top schools they were not applying to. It was one of the reasons 2 of them decided to apply ED.</p>

6

<p>I second your question. Both of my parents have bachelors degrees from the same university, and my mother has her masters degree from it as well. I’m hoping my strong legacy there doesn’t hurt me at other colleges!</p>

7

<p>I doubt an adcom would reject an otherwise accepted student based on his or her parents’ occupations.</p>

8

<p>No, but they would reject believing they won’t yield the student. Especially good chance when the parents work at the school as they would generally get a major discount.</p>

9

<p>Too late to change your parents or their jobs. Apply to all your desires and see what happens. You are so lucky to have a true safety.</p>

10

<p>I agree with Batllo, there really isn’t much you can do about your parents’ occupation. However, I think that the why X essays will play a crucial role in telling the adcoms whether or not you will actually go. For you especially, you could mention how you want to get further from home (just be sure that’s not the main focus of your why X essay).</p>

11

<p>I would be sure to mention the importance of things that school Y offers that are not offered at the school where the parents teach.</p>