would hardships count as a "hook"

Applying to College
1

do hardships stand out a lot on your college app? my family is extremely poor (<20000), i have a brother who once smoked marijuana and has a violent past, my grandfathers died of opium, and my parents are divorced. are there anywhere in the app that i can note this, besides the essay? thanks.

2

<p>i think the only place that would remotely ask that would be sumthing about like parents residing with. </p>

<p>As for it being a hook...idk, the only way i see that possible is if you did sumthin extraordinary to rise above it.</p>

3

<p>The income issue can work for or against you, depending on whether or not the college is need-blind or need-conscious, and also whether your record is strong enough for you to deserve a lot of merit aid. (Speaking of which, are you keeping costs in mind when looking at colleges?)</p>

<p>Drug use and divorce are common. You have no need to note either of those things.</p>

4

<p>Being very poor may help with the top colleges, that have huge endowments, tons of financial and have a hard time attracting qualified low income students. However, for this to work in your favor, you still need the stats to qualify for admission to places like Harvard and Princeton (which are examples of the colleges searching for low income applicants).</p>

<p>Plenty of students come from divorced families affected by drug abuse. In general, discussing such issues in your essay will only make you seem to be making an appeal for admissions that's based on pity, and will turn adcoms off.</p>

<p>Being very poor will hurt you at colleges that reject applicants who are poor because the colleges don't have much financial aid. There also aren't a lot of colleges that can afford to give full financial aid to low income students. You may be able to be admitted, but not get the aid you need to go to the college.</p>

<p>Consequently, make sure that you have a financial safety -- a college that you know you'll gain admission to and also can afford. For many students, such a college is their local public 4-year or community college.</p>