White low income male with average grades and ECs - will the “I couldn’t afford more” angle help?

[Anonymous]

Just got done talking to my son’s counselor last year and we talked about the UC essays.

UC wants to know about your kid so the essays, a bit unlike the Common App one and supplemental ones of other schools (often only one) are like an extended conversation with the AOs. That’s why there are 4 of them.

So, yes, I suggest selecting prompts that enable him to highlight his background and personal experiences that you mention within the context of what he wants to accomplish at a UC. Personally, I think low key and matter of fact is best, this is who I am, this is how my experiences have shaped as a person, without coming across as a victim, and this is what I want to become with the benefit of a UC education.

Of course, you can apply to all 9 UCs and there is no reason not to, and I see the best chances of admission as UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis. All are social mobility schools and Riverside is especially underrated. UC also evaluates applicants in the context of the other applicants from your school and the rigor of courses available. Chances are better if he is non-business and non-STEM.

If you already know all this, appreciate your patience, and I hope for the best for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would play up the sewing in his essay.

Talk about how difficult it has been to have a hobby that is considered “feminine.”

Maybe have him give sewing lessons to other disadvantaged kids.

Talk about how sewing is a great creative outlet that has allowed him to express his unique artistic talent.

Maybe have him sew some garments for a play or homeless shelter so he can talk about how helping others is so fulfilling.

Or he can go to goodwill and get cheap fabrics that he can use to make artisitic textiles, clothes for the needy, etc…

there are a million ways he can spin the sewing angle.

So yes, he wants to go for a sewing angle or maybe talk about some books that have transformed his life. I suggested mentioning his low income background and family obligations but he isn’t too receptive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He sounds like a normal kid with normal options. He should just go to state school.

There are differently rated state schools, a whole system, even two systems - UC and CSU. I was also thinking about private schools for him if they are generous with aid.

[Anonymous]

One last thing, he should relate his experiences in his voice. You can help with editing with a light touch. His voice is what may sway an AO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would play up the sewing in his essay.

Talk about how difficult it has been to have a hobby that is considered “feminine.”

Maybe have him give sewing lessons to other disadvantaged kids.

Talk about how sewing is a great creative outlet that has allowed him to express his unique artistic talent.

Maybe have him sew some garments for a play or homeless shelter so he can talk about how helping others is so fulfilling.

Or he can go to goodwill and get cheap fabrics that he can use to make artisitic textiles, clothes for the needy, etc…

there are a million ways he can spin the sewing angle.

So yes, he wants to go for a sewing angle or maybe talk about some books that have transformed his life. I suggested mentioning his low income background and family obligations but he isn’t too receptive.

UC wants to know what he doesn’t want to write about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t there a “family assistance” question on Common App? If there’s not, in addition to job, I’d list whatever caretaking responsibilities for grandparents he does under ECs.

If the sewing has a measurable output, I’d mention it (like they sew dresses & sell them or make X to donate at Y place)

No measurable output, he alters his clothes and maybe helped a few friends with the same (on a pretty basic level).

I was mostly wondering if he should build his whole essay and supplements around family circumstances. Not just answering a question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One last thing, he should relate his experiences in his voice. You can help with editing with a light touch. His voice is what may sway an AO.

Yes, that’s the plan, he is writing his own essay and he is a fairly decent writer too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got done talking to my son’s counselor last year and we talked about the UC essays.

UC wants to know about your kid so the essays, a bit unlike the Common App one and supplemental ones of other schools (often only one) are like an extended conversation with the AOs. That’s why there are 4 of them.

So, yes, I suggest selecting prompts that enable him to highlight his background and personal experiences that you mention within the context of what he wants to accomplish at a UC. Personally, I think low key and matter of fact is best, this is who I am, this is how my experiences have shaped as a person, without coming across as a victim, and this is what I want to become with the benefit of a UC education.

Of course, you can apply to all 9 UCs and there is no reason not to, and I see the best chances of admission as UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis. All are social mobility schools and Riverside is especially underrated. UC also evaluates applicants in the context of the other applicants from your school and the rigor of courses available. Chances are better if he is non-business and non-STEM.

If you already know all this, appreciate your patience, and I hope for the best for him.

Thank you, I’ve only just started on this and my own kids are too little so I appreciate the advice.

He isn’t going into theater or textiles, that I do know. No stem. Business or finance? Maybe.

[Anonymous]

The GPA is hard to evaluate without understanding rigor and where he ranks in his class.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the majority, OP. He cannot write a "poor me" essay, but -

Yes, he can write about BOTH:
1. Helping his family.
2. His passions.

College admissions officers want measurable outcomes. He can say how many hours it takes to do those things and go into detail about the impact he makes, and what he's learned about himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So there’s a teen I am trying to help who is white and low income, has a mix of As and Bs (GPA will probably be around 3.5), has one sport (he isn’t good at it), a part time job and a couple of hobbies like reading and sewing.

The goal is to help him get into one of the UCs, maybe some private schools, not T10 or anything but a decent school. He won’t be majoring in STEM.

Should I advise him to pursue an angle in his essays and PIQs where he writes about his life in low income housing, working to support his family, helping his grandparents? Will this help offset his mediocre grades and ECs? Or it doesn’t matter and he can write about his passion for reading or sewing for example?

I think he should leverage his family background.

I'm not sure the sewing angle does much because I'm assuming it doesn't connect to intended major. If it did, then maybe.

It would be very helpful to do some career interest inventories with this kid. If his grades are mediocre, does he have a clear plan for investigating majors? How do you know which UCs will fit best. Are you hoping that getting him into a "better" UC might transform his situation? Maybe it's better to target a "just right" campus?

For someone who has a mix of As and Bs in high school with probably limited rigor, and without something that promises a strong support system (Family, D1 sport, etc.), a "better" UC might be a bad situation. I went to Berkeley and it's big, and a lot of classes can feel very "sink or swim" and a decent number of people do drop out or struggle and take a long time to graduate (which is more problematic if you are low income), especially if they weren't used to rigor in high school. A "just right" school will still be attractive to employers and would likely give better chances of graduating in 4 years and having a positive experience.

[Anonymous]

I would play up the sewing, because it's different and memorable. If he can tie it to his family circumstances, great. It does not need to connect with his major.

The problem with focusing entirely on his family circumstances is that other kids will have much "better" (worse, tougher) stories. "I'm poor for my rich neighborhood" is not, by itself, compelling. But it can be one part of an interesting story.

[Anonymous]

For a high school kid, I think sewing is interesting. How many kids can alter their clothes? Seems more novel than some kid who is making up a story line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So there’s a teen I am trying to help who is white and low income, has a mix of As and Bs (GPA will probably be around 3.5), has one sport (he isn’t good at it), a part time job and a couple of hobbies like reading and sewing.

The goal is to help him get into one of the UCs, maybe some private schools, not T10 or anything but a decent school. He won’t be majoring in STEM.

Should I advise him to pursue an angle in his essays and PIQs where he writes about his life in low income housing, working to support his family, helping his grandparents? Will this help offset his mediocre grades and ECs? Or it doesn’t matter and he can write about his passion for reading or sewing for example?

I think he should leverage his family background.

I'm not sure the sewing angle does much because I'm assuming it doesn't connect to intended major. If it did, then maybe.

It would be very helpful to do some career interest inventories with this kid. If his grades are mediocre, does he have a clear plan for investigating majors? How do you know which UCs will fit best. Are you hoping that getting him into a "better" UC might transform his situation? Maybe it's better to target a "just right" campus?

For someone who has a mix of As and Bs in high school with probably limited rigor, and without something that promises a strong support system (Family, D1 sport, etc.), a "better" UC might be a bad situation. I went to Berkeley and it's big, and a lot of classes can feel very "sink or swim" and a decent number of people do drop out or struggle and take a long time to graduate (which is more problematic if you are low income), especially if they weren't used to rigor in high school. A "just right" school will still be attractive to employers and would likely give better chances of graduating in 4 years and having a positive experience.

This is why I said that Riverside is underrated, quality education in a more social, collaborative setting.

[Anonymous]

He should talk about his responsibilities and the need for him to have a job - but again not in a pity party way - more in a hero's journey way about how the challenges have made him a better person.