Which will matter more - full pay or boot straps story?

[Anonymous]

Looking at t20 colleges

We live in nyc and kid attended under-resourced public schools k-8 and then private for HS

She has a few essays in prelim stage. But hard to know what colleges will be looking for. In the past, I would have said the story. And one essay mentions that “distance traveled” in a way that’s organic and appropriate.

The other doesn’t, although it’s interesting and good. We’ll likely be full pay but I’d like to at least throw our css in, just in case things change.

I don’t really know how colleges would know we’re full pay our Neighborhood and schools are mixed. But she could drop some bits to make her some well off.

Which is more compelling these days. Can’t have it both way n

[Anonymous]

She should look up the origins of "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" because it is widely misunderstood and misused.

[Anonymous]

“Bootstraps” story has to be really compelling though - you’ll be compared to kids who faced serious hardships. It may come across as weird, narcissistic, lack perspective if it’s not at that level?

Can you give concrete examples for option 1 vs 2?

Sounds like your kid doesn’t know which tone to take. I’d use an essay coach. This could be a land mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at t20 colleges

We live in nyc and kid attended under-resourced public schools k-8 and then private for HS

She has a few essays in prelim stage. But hard to know what colleges will be looking for. In the past, I would have said the story. And one essay mentions that “distance traveled” in a way that’s organic and appropriate.

The other doesn’t, although it’s interesting and good. We’ll likely be full pay but I’d like to at least throw our css in, just in case things change.

I don’t really know how colleges would know we’re full pay our Neighborhood and schools are mixed. But she could drop some bits to make her some well off.

Which is more compelling these days. Can’t have it both way n

They’ll know she’s full pay from private HS; if your kid is a “scholarship kid” with low income and hardship the CCO letter handles it. And they place those kids well. Selective colleges know who’s low income from a private school- it’s not a secret.

Your home address isn’t necessarily dispositive here.

Just be authentic. The personal essay should be about your values, your outlook, what you bring to situations. If you are not low income pretending to be low income is a horrible look. I wouldn’t also talk about playing polo or traveling the world - things like that should never be discussed in a personal essay.

[Anonymous]

Search for a recent Reddit post on r/Applyingtocollege:
“How do AOs view higher income applicants?”

[Anonymous]

She doesn’t sound very much like she pulled herself up from nothing. Full pay and bootstraps are opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Search for a recent Reddit post on r/Applyingtocollege:
“How do AOs view higher income applicants?”

There is one comment in that reddit post I agree with: "You'll be evaluated as someone who had access to certain resources so if you specifically abstain from using those resources it could impact your admissions outcomes." Things like summer programs, UMC kids don't have to refrain from them if they are valuable for growth.

[Anonymous]

Go with distance traveled story to make the first cut with reader or lower level AO. The number crunchers that make the final decision will know you are full pay.

[Anonymous]

I think full pay will be more important this cycle.

But your counselor letter won’t say that. And if you’re checking the box for FA, who knows

[Anonymous]

I am not completely clear on how good the bootstraps story is.

If you're full pay, I'm thinking maybe not that great?

Agree that authenticity is key.

[Anonymous]

"My parents sent me to a low-income school because they felt like it, then opted out when it actually mattered" is not a distance traveled story.

[Anonymous]

"I feel poor at Dalton" is a bad look regardless. Find a totally different, unique, topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My parents sent me to a low-income school because they felt like it, then opted out when it actually mattered" is not a distance traveled story.

Exactly. You’re a ghoul, OP.

[Anonymous]

I grew up very poor (government cheese , no dentist etc) til my mom remarried when I was 17. So I don’t know why people here are so confused. A lot more likely than, we’re rich but my parents sent me to a title 1 school for giggles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My parents sent me to a low-income school because they felt like it, then opted out when it actually mattered" is not a distance traveled story.

And neither is, my parents used their money to supplement my education so that I can feel superior to the actually poor kids I went to school with.