Reply to What am I not learning about college admission from my lower income school?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Our public school is doing a good job encouraging kids to go to college, esp if low income or first in their family. They are not focussed on Ivies, SLACs, or more competitive schools. For example, they are very encouraging of SAT and ACT prep but never mentioned SAT subject matter tests, which I learned about from college confidential. The school does not have an established relationship or, apparently, many students who even apply to those schools. Appreciate suggestions about how to educate ourselves or what else we might be missing. DC is in 9th grade, so just starting to try to understand the current admissions system. [/quote]

The most elite schools (e.g. Harvard, Princeton, Stanford) are actively looking for first generation college students and low income students.  First generation may be as much of a tipping factor as legacy for a highly-qualified student.  And for a family whose household income is 60K or less, if a student is admitted, room & board as well as tuition will be free.  No loans to pay off after school.

So the biggest message for super-bright/highly accomplished low-income or first-generation kids is THESE SCHOOLS WANT YOU if you can prove you're capable of doing the work.  It's not a matter of easing into college with a state school because your parents never went to college.  Or looking for the cheapest option because that's all you can afford.  Aim for the top if you're smart.  Don't aim only for the top -- everybody has to hedge his/her bets.  But it's a weird system right now where the previously most exclusive schools may actually be more accessible/welcoming to some low income schools than public schools (or private schools one or two tiers down).

It's also worth seeking out summer programs targeted to high-schoolers from underrepresented groups (which aren't always defined by race -- could be women in science, first generation college, low-income, etc.).  Sometimes they'll be hosted by the colleges/universities themselves.  Other times the military sponsors them (with no requirement of future enlistment) -- see, e.g. SEAP or GEMS for science and engineering.  These programs can be useful in a variety of ways -- improving a student's academic skills, exposing students to fields they might not otherwise encounter in school, serving as an honor or credential for college applications.  The military ones generally seem to include a stipend.[/quote]

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