First in my family to go to college, let alone law school Forum

[dietcoke0]

I keep having to put parent's education as "high school" and what degree did your parents receive or what university did your parents go to as "N/A".

Should I feel good or bad about this? I have a short GPA addendum for my better schools cause I do have a 170 LSAT, but a lower GPA, and blame it for working 30-40 hours to pay for my entire university education. (including teaching international students English for my university)

Anyone know if this is a good thing to break out of the mold, or bad that I am the only one to seek higher education?

Thanks

[rinkrat19]

It won't get you into any schools your numbers wouldn't already qualify you for, but it is a small plus.

[Verity]

The adcomm won't hold it against you even if you were raised by

[dietcoke0]

I'm not looking for a push, just making sure it's not a bad thing. My family already treats me like an elitist bastard for graduating from a state school (amid a decent program) but it would suck if I start getting dinged from schools on that fact alone.

[auntjulia]

I'm not an adcomm but if I was, I'd look at it as a good thing.

I think it's a good soft in that it shows you've done well in the face of hardship, and achieved highly without the parental support system that most people depend on.

I'd expect the adcomms to look at your app with a kinder eye because of that background. Either way, there is zero chance that it hurts you.

Good luck

[bp shinners]

I think it's a decent soft in that it shows you've done well in the face of hardship, and achieved highly without the parental support system that most people depend on.

This. It shows some socio-economic diversity. It won't be a huge deal, but it will probably be a plus, and it most certainly won't be a minus.

[Geetar Man]

OP, it won't hurt at all, I don't know why you're trippin. I can almost guarantee you that they see this type of situation year after year.

Anecdotally, I'm in the same boat.

Good luck to you!

[dietcoke0]

I wasn't trippin, just curious. I feel I have the numbers already to get into the schools I want, and applying to a few stretches. I was just making sure that I wasn't going to get dinged at schools I have the numbers to get into because of it.

[puff0ffluff]

i think it's more of a good thing than a bad thing. law schools like diversity, remember? if there is someone else who comes from an upper class family with the exact same numbers as you and roughly the same softs, i think you'll beat him to the spot =)

stay positive, and don't let mean people discourage you. =) Good luck

[legalmindedfella]

OP, in addition to offering general congratulations on working so hard, I'd also strongly suggest looking for scholarship opportunities at the schools to which you do apply. NYU has the AnBryce and I'm sure many other schools you're looking at have something similar - http://www.law.nyu.edu/admissions/jdadm ... /index.htm .

That such a scholarship exists should also demonstrate that your background is something schools are very likely to find compelling, which could make the difference. Good luck!

[dietcoke0]

OP, in addition to offering general congratulations on working so hard, I'd also strongly suggest looking for scholarship opportunities at the schools to which you do apply. NYU has the AnBryce and I'm sure many other schools you're looking at have something similar - http://www.law.nyu.edu/admissions/jdadm ... /index.htm .

That such a scholarship exists should also demonstrate that your background is something schools are very likely to find compelling, which could make the difference. Good luck!

Wow, awesome info, thank you so much. I will have to look into that as I submit my apps this week.

[NYC Law]

Same situation when I applied. It won't really help, but could give you a slight boost in borderline cases.


And congrats, I know it isn't easy.