Zip code and college applications

[Anonymous]

I've heard the schools get a dashboard that shows each application mapped against their high school statistics. They can see right away if 100 kids got 1500+ or if your kid is the only one. Easier to stand out when you actually stand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the schools get a dashboard that shows each application mapped against their high school statistics. They can see right away if 100 kids got 1500+ or if your kid is the only one. Easier to stand out when you actually stand out.

And this right here is what drives the insane arms race in college admissions. That it is not enough for kids to be good vs the crop of others applying nationwide but they have to stand out vs others at their same school .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

They can, but statistically I doubt they are doing this for very many applicants. Not worth the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

They can, but statistically I doubt they are doing this for very many applicants. Not worth the time.

We do it. It’s a rather fun use of time, actually. And for borderline students it does make a big difference. But ofc the biggest difference is made by just not requesting FA at all; that’s the easiest way in.
-AO essay reader

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

They can, but statistically I doubt they are doing this for very many applicants. Not worth the time.

We do it. It’s a rather fun use of time, actually. And for borderline students it does make a big difference. But ofc the biggest difference is made by just not requesting FA at all; that’s the easiest way in.
-AO essay reader

So assuming your take is accurate and applicable to many schools, how does the applicant’s address and Zillow info make a big difference for borderline students? Why does their home matter one way or the other?

And I ask this as somebody who lives in a wealthy neighborhood in a house that has gone up in value by something like 30% since we bought it, that we could afford because we had parental assistance many years ago. Our house really doesn’t reflect our income. But because we’re in a wealthy area, it could give our kid a boost? That’s baffling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

Do you really not know ANYONE who rents an apartment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

Do you really not know ANYONE who rents an apartment?

We can walk through those online too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

They can, but statistically I doubt they are doing this for very many applicants. Not worth the time.

We do it. It’s a rather fun use of time, actually. And for borderline students it does make a big difference. But ofc the biggest difference is made by just not requesting FA at all; that’s the easiest way in.
-AO essay reader

So assuming your take is accurate and applicable to many schools, how does the applicant’s address and Zillow info make a big difference for borderline students? Why does their home matter one way or the other?

And I ask this as somebody who lives in a wealthy neighborhood in a house that has gone up in value by something like 30% since we bought it, that we could afford because we had parental assistance many years ago. Our house really doesn’t reflect our income. But because we’re in a wealthy area, it could give our kid a boost? That’s baffling.

Not necessarily a boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

I have trouble imagining AOs doing this for tens of thousands of applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

I have trouble imagining AOs doing this for tens of thousands of applicants.

Of course not. Half the applicants are outright rejected, then half of those are outright waitlisted, then half of what’s left are instant-admit. The remaining fraction are scrutinized by SES etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

The read applications in 6-8 minutes. Max 10. Essays, supplements, recommendations, transcripts, school profile, activities, demographic info. They are not wasting time looking up applicants’ homes on Zillow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

They can, but statistically I doubt they are doing this for very many applicants. Not worth the time.

We do it. It’s a rather fun use of time, actually. And for borderline students it does make a big difference. But ofc the biggest difference is made by just not requesting FA at all; that’s the easiest way in.
-AO essay reader

Who gave you the guidance to do that? Was that part of your official training?

I am surprised you have time to do that. It sounds like they hired a bad egg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

They can, but statistically I doubt they are doing this for very many applicants. Not worth the time.

We do it. It’s a rather fun use of time, actually. And for borderline students it does make a big difference. But ofc the biggest difference is made by just not requesting FA at all; that’s the easiest way in.
-AO essay reader

Who gave you the guidance to do that? Was that part of your official training?

I am surprised you have time to do that. It sounds like they hired a bad egg.

lol I was not “hired”
It’s a committee position

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

I have trouble imagining AOs doing this for tens of thousands of applicants.

Of course not. Half the applicants are outright rejected, then half of those are outright waitlisted, then half of what’s left are instant-admit. The remaining fraction are scrutinized by SES etc.

By admissions staffers?? I highly doubt this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges drill down into neighborhoods within zip codes? My zip code in Fairfax County has both extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Multi- million dollar homes located along the Potomac River and mobile home parks, homeless shelters and transient motels on Rt 1 - all within 2 miles of each other.

Yes. They look at the actual address.

They can tour your house on Zillow.

The read applications in 6-8 minutes. Max 10. Essays, supplements, recommendations, transcripts, school profile, activities, demographic info. They are not wasting time looking up applicants’ homes on Zillow.

Go ahead and let them imagine that admissions officers are stalking them on the internet. We are well into tin foil hat territory. Might as well go all the way in