Tricks and “lifehacks” that help getting into a better college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know someone whose child wanted to go to MIT; did not get in out of high school; (even went to HS in another STATE to help achieve this goal); the kid then went to CC, took up fencing, and eventually got into MIT as a transfer/ fencer.

Yeah, that didn't happen, you lie like a preschooler. Completely arrested in your development and obsessing on MIT, weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live in a college town or very close to a college, and send your kid to the “best” high school there. For example, move to Philly & send your child to Germantown Friends School to strategize getting into Penn.

While GFS was a major feeder to Penn in years past, it has not seen the same admit numbers in the past few years.

The biggest reason for local feeder schools into elite colleges is parents who either work at the college or are important alumni that have settled in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top medical & law schools don’t really care where you went to undergrad. Top PhD programs are snobby, in that the level of research experience they expect from applicants can only be obtained at top undergrad schools.

Not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok we all know about the straightforward things like good grades and extracurricular achievements, right?
What are some other things that aren’t obvious, may not be exactly ethical (but are legal!) and maybe cumbersome but that help?
So far I have thought about:
- quitting jobs and becoming low income for 6 years (2 years before college and 4 years of college)
- moving to a state that sends few people to certain colleges
- homeschooling
- giving the kid a Hispanic last name and not checking the race on application (no lying involved so..)
- transferring kid to a mediocre but safe high school

I mean I know most of these sound crazy but let’s entertain the thoughts?

How is giving the kid a Hispanic last name not lying?

Checking the wrong box is lying. Changing one’s last name? Don’t think so

Wtf? You want to teach your kid that going to Harvard is more important than not be a phoney con artist? Why? Harvard is a good college but it's still just a college.

Nothing much different than having unfair advantage as ALDC

Teaching your kid being privileged and having advantage is great thing above fair competition

[Anonymous]

System and rules are rigged in the first place.
Don't blame the players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top medical & law schools don’t really care where you went to undergrad. Top PhD programs are snobby, in that the level of research experience they expect from applicants can only be obtained at top undergrad schools.

Not true.

All of what’s written in that post is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
System and rules are rigged in the first place.
Don't blame the players.

We have had recent Presidents, who have faked their way all the way in the White House and it was obvious while they were campaigning before they even got that far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re an Asian male, apply to SLACs as a humanities major.

You know you don’t apply into majors at SLACs.

Depends on which one. There are many that you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top medical & law schools don’t really care where you went to undergrad. Top PhD programs are snobby, in that the level of research experience they expect from applicants can only be obtained at top undergrad schools.

Not true.

All of what’s written in that post is true.

The first statement is. The second is not. I know people who are in or have received degrees from top PhD programs who did not attend what I assume you consider to be 'top undergrad schools'. Unless you're including pretty much all flagship universities, the top 50 universities on USNWR and the top 20-30 LACs, in which case my experience is in agreement with your statement. But I still doubt you're right, because I'm sure there are exceptions I don't know about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top medical & law schools don’t really care where you went to undergrad. Top PhD programs are snobby, in that the level of research experience they expect from applicants can only be obtained at top undergrad schools.

Not true.

All of what’s written in that post is true.

The first statement is. The second is not. I know people who are in or have received degrees from top PhD programs who did not attend what I assume you consider to be 'top undergrad schools'. Unless you're including pretty much all flagship universities, the top 50 universities on USNWR and the top 20-30 LACs, in which case my experience is in agreement with your statement. But I still doubt you're right, because I'm sure there are exceptions I don't know about.

Yes I would consider those “top.” Versus that a student could attend UMBC or Radford and still get into a top med or law school if they have top grades & MCAT/LSAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Honestly? Well we checked the Hispanic box when we don't exactly "identify" as Hispanic. Son's grandmother is from Cuba, so we considered it legit. It probably helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best one I saw was a kid that threw together a webpage that interviewed people in the field she ostensibly wanted to be in. She had good but not amazing test scores (maybe 1450 SAT). Got into an HYPSM.

Which field was this? What was so impressive about having some informational interview transcripts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apply as a minority even if you're white.

This can have consequences though
Stretching the truth yes, but outright lying?

This thread is tongue-in-cheeck, but it's pretty hard to get caught. The application specifically asks which race you identify with, not with race you are. It's not like colleges will DNA-test students to see who's really mixed/one eighth native American.

[Anonymous]

Here are some ideas:

https://calnewport.com/how-to-get-into-stanford-with-bs-on-your-transcript-failed-simulations-the-surprising-psychology-of-impressiveness/
https://calnewport.com/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/
https://calnewport.com/the-race-to-somewhere-how-to-make-the-college-admissions-process-the-foundation-for-a-life-well-lived/
https://calnewport.com/want-to-get-into-harvard-spend-more-time-staring-at-the-clouds-rethinking-the-role-of-extracurricular-activities-in-college-admissions/
https://calnewport.com/do-you-want-to-succeed-in-college-admissions-finish-something/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are some ideas:

https://calnewport.com/how-to-get-into-stanford-with-bs-on-your-transcript-failed-simulations-the-surprising-psychology-of-impressiveness/
https://calnewport.com/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/
https://calnewport.com/the-race-to-somewhere-how-to-make-the-college-admissions-process-the-foundation-for-a-life-well-lived/
https://calnewport.com/want-to-get-into-harvard-spend-more-time-staring-at-the-clouds-rethinking-the-role-of-extracurricular-activities-in-college-admissions/
https://calnewport.com/do-you-want-to-succeed-in-college-admissions-finish-something/

His ideas are certainly helpful, but very outdated. I think you need something more nowadays.