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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:choosing a less common major on the common app

True but only to a certain extent. You need to back it up with your curricular and extracurriculars. I don't think colleges will buy it when a kid who does mainly CS classes and clubs declares Latin as his major

DP but if his HS classes are a good mix of everything it should be fine?

[Anonymous]

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?

this list is so dumb. faking being Hispanic? Quitting employment? Homeschooling? You must be trolling.

Kids have to put in work. Either be top of class, top SAT/ACT, or be great at a sport or do academic extracurriculars. What might help too is being a leader in some org. Can also research level of donations that get you a special look. I'm no expert, just stating the obvious

The point of this thread is exactly going beyond the obvious though

[Anonymous]

For top Catholic colleges, go to a Jesuit or Catholic high school and be at the top of your class. Also, be Catholic, and have a history of volunteering at your parish.

[Anonymous]

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

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

[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?

- assets are considered as well as income
- geographic diversity is not a hook; still plenty of students looking to apply
- there are many reasons to homeschool. College admission is not one of them. Expect to need dual enrollment grades.
- even checking the box, Hispanic isn't as big a hook as you might think

Transferring to a mediocre but safe high school is the best suggestion in this list. It's realistic and the higher the GPA, the better. Just make sure sufficient AP courses and the student's desired activities are offered.

Interestingly, everyone vying to buy a house in a "good" school district (as opposed to a a good enough, say, rated 5-7) told me that the peer group is crucial, and they want their kids to be surrounded by certain kind of kids. Wouldn't then moving to a mediocre high school completely defeat the purpose?

OP used some backwards logic. Occasionally, a student from a low-performing “bad peer group” who rises to the top of their class, and has good test scores and ECs (especially if they’re, say, working 25 hours/week at McDonald’s) is seen as a “diamond in the rough” by AOs. That kid at the top of the class who gets into a bunch of top schools from a “bad” high school is usually a first-generation college applicant and/or a URM.

If you move your UMC kid to some random high school for 9th-12th, and their ECs are sailing, private pilots license, travel sports or studying abroad for a year of high school, I think AOs will see right through that.

But if the kid does some middle of the road stuff and has a PT job it should be ok no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3:2 engineering programs.

What are these?!

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/combinedplan

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/2022-05/Combined%20Plan%20Affiliates%202021-22.pdf

Same goes for WUSTL & Case Western.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

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?

Whole bunch of stupid right there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3:2 engineering programs.

What are these?!

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/combinedplan

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/2022-05/Combined%20Plan%20Affiliates%202021-22.pdf

Same goes for WUSTL & Case Western.

Thank you!

I don't understand this. Can someone give more details on how this gets you in better college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3:2 engineering programs.

Is there a path from community college to this? From my beginning research, it looks like DC could do 2 years NOVA (earning an AS), 2 years Longwood, 2 years UVA.

[Anonymous]

From my corner of the world:

DC needs a compelling story, like parent is in federal prison for a white collar crime. Or personally affected by local tragedy.

Become friends of friends with BOV member of state flagship. Have this independently wealthy and well-known person/donor write DC a letter of recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Have DC attend a high FARMS HS with wide economic differences. Your DC can take all honors/weighted GPA/challenging courses and exist in a bubble - all neighbors and peers went private. Bonus for personal achievements like scouting, school leadership, advisory boards. DC will graduate at top of class and be a standout, unlike peers at nearby higher achieving HS who’ll be shocked at being wait listed or rejected.

Big fish, small pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3:2 engineering programs.

What are these?!

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/combinedplan

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/2022-05/Combined%20Plan%20Affiliates%202021-22.pdf

Same goes for WUSTL & Case Western.

Thank you!

I don't understand this. Can someone give more details on how this gets you in better college.

You spend the first 3 years at a lower ranked school, say Adelphi, then go for 2 years to Columbia and graduate with a Columbia diploma.

There is a catch, though. I have a friend who graduated from Columbia engineering. He told me that most of those transfers (and it's not guaranteed, you still have to apply) fail spectacularly once they are put into classes with students who spent their first 2 years at Columbia. They are forced to drink from a firehose, academically speaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have DC attend a high FARMS HS with wide economic differences. Your DC can take all honors/weighted GPA/challenging courses and exist in a bubble - all neighbors and peers went private. Bonus for personal achievements like scouting, school leadership, advisory boards. DC will graduate at top of class and be a standout, unlike peers at nearby higher achieving HS who’ll be shocked at being wait listed or rejected.

Big fish, small pool.

I don’t think this works as often as you would think. Those schools don’t always offer the hardest courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3:2 engineering programs.

What are these?!

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/combinedplan

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/2022-05/Combined%20Plan%20Affiliates%202021-22.pdf

Same goes for WUSTL & Case Western.

Thank you!

I don't understand this. Can someone give more details on how this gets you in better college.

You do a math or physics bachelor’s degree at a liberal arts college. There is a VERY long list of acceptable liberal arts colleges for this. You’ve never heard of most of them. There might even be some directional (regional) public universities on it. I know that Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania is acceptable. You must finish that degree in 3 years with the required GPA (I think it’s a 3.4?). Then, you do 2 years of engineering at Columbia, Case Western, Cal Tech or WUSTL. At that point, you graduate with a B.S. in engineering.

It’s billed as a way to both experience a liberal arts college & get an engineering degree, since most LACs don’t offer them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have DC attend a high FARMS HS with wide economic differences. Your DC can take all honors/weighted GPA/challenging courses and exist in a bubble - all neighbors and peers went private. Bonus for personal achievements like scouting, school leadership, advisory boards. DC will graduate at top of class and be a standout, unlike peers at nearby higher achieving HS who’ll be shocked at being wait listed or rejected.

Big fish, small pool.

I don’t think this works as often as you would think. Those schools don’t always offer the hardest courses.

TC Williams does. Falls Church HS does.