<p>So I'm starting to work on my common app and I'm on the parent information section. My parents both did undergrad at Vanderbilt and grad school at Wake, so obviously I can't pass myself off as some kind of first generation college student, but I'm afraid that my background of coming from a family where higher education is expected may loose me some points during the application process. What are everyone's opinions on withholding the fact that my parents went to graduate school from my application? Is it immoral or whatever and would this help or hurt my application in anyway?</p>
<p>it won’t have an effect if you tell the truth, they won’t look down on you. if you lie and get caught, it will hurt very much</p>
<p>It will only show you’re more privileged which will only make you look <em>slightly</em> less impressive. Besides, it will show income anyway. If you lie an get caught you’re done for. Besides how is that fair?? Most applicants have parents who either didn’t go to college or went to state schools/CC. You have an advantage of well educated parents. That wouldn’t be moral and it wouldn’t get you anywhere</p>
<p>Yes, tell the truth. My kid had parents who both went to a very good undergrad university, and her dad was a Georgetown Law graduate. I have an MBA as well. My kid got in everyplace she applied last year, including Swarthmore, U of Chicago, Harvey Mudd, Carleton, and a few other schools. None of them legacy schools, no hook. You likely have solid academics and test scores, far offsetting what most 1st gen students are struggling with in admissions. Don’t try to pass yourself off as anything you aren’t in the admissions process… being authentic is a good think in the admissions process. And as ironchariot said, you would be in a lot of trouble if you lie and get caught.</p>
<p>Is it inappropriate? Is it immoral?</p>
<p>You will be asked to sign a certification saying everything contained in your app is truthful. If at this very second you can’t answer the two questions above, then you’re not conscious.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, this is all pretty much what I assumed the answer would be, I just didn’t know whether this kind of thing makes a significant difference on an application. I had heard that some people didn’t report their parent’s colleges and I was more just wondering if that is something that people actually do. So I will not be withholding that information.</p>
<p>Stop overthinking this stuff. Having parents who went to grad school shows that your family values education.</p>