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

[Anonymous]

Get an admin staff job at a top university. Preferably the lowest level job that still considers you an employee of the university (cleaning & food service are contracted out, so not those).

Or, get a graduate degree from a top university that considers children whose parents completed a grad degree from that a school a legacy.

[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?

Number one would be to make sure the kid comes from a good family. It might be too late for your kids, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Community college -> top instate flagship. Works in VA, CA, FL and TX at least.

This is big in Florida.

[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?

Better yet would be to marry a minority so your kid would be half minority. Then there’s no lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Community college -> top instate flagship. Works in VA, CA, FL and TX at least.

NP here - can you explain? Is this just applying to a top flagship as a transfer, or is there more to this? Does this give you a better chance of admission?

[Anonymous]

Have sex with an admissions officer or someone high up in the administration. Take video and use it against them if necessary.

[Anonymous]

Move to North Dakota or Oklahoma for high school and apply to HYP from there.

[Anonymous]

XC/distance track is a sport that your child can start doing around 8th-10th grade and still become good enough to be recruited at, especially if you’re a girl. If they’ve been into swimming, soccer or basketball before thar, that will be very helpful. I would recommend your daughter train intensively (including with private coaching) and run on her schools XC & track teams in 9th-12th. You want her to peak around 11th grade. Aim for around 5:00 1600 time for NESCAC, UAA & Patriot League schools.

[Anonymous]

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?

Yes nobody in their right mind would do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college -> top instate flagship. Works in VA, CA, FL and TX at least.

NP here - can you explain? Is this just applying to a top flagship as a transfer, or is there more to this? Does this give you a better chance of admission?

Most states have guaranteed transfer programs from community college to the public universities in that state if you have X GPA and have taken Y courses.

The “catches” so-to-speak are that you’re not surrounded by the peer group you might be at a 4-year, you miss out on research opportunities (if you’re in STEM), one bad grade could tank your chances of transferring to a particular college (although there would still be others you could transfer to) and general low average success rates of students transferring. You also may not be guaranteed to be allowed to join a particular major once you transfer. Your child needs to be highly motivated, organized & know exactly what classes they need to take to transfer successfully + graduate in-time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:XC/distance track is a sport that your child can start doing around 8th-10th grade and still become good enough to be recruited at, especially if you’re a girl. If they’ve been into swimming, soccer or basketball before thar, that will be very helpful. I would recommend your daughter train intensively (including with private coaching) and run on her schools XC & track teams in 9th-12th. You want her to peak around 11th grade. Aim for around 5:00 1600 time for NESCAC, UAA & Patriot League schools.

No problem. Just have your daughter run a 5 minute mile. Easy peasey.

[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?

Yes nobody in their right mind would do that.

Do you really think there are no smart, motivated kids at "mediocre" high schools? GMAFB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:XC/distance track is a sport that your child can start doing around 8th-10th grade and still become good enough to be recruited at, especially if you’re a girl. If they’ve been into swimming, soccer or basketball before thar, that will be very helpful. I would recommend your daughter train intensively (including with private coaching) and run on her schools XC & track teams in 9th-12th. You want her to peak around 11th grade. Aim for around 5:00 1600 time for NESCAC, UAA & Patriot League schools.

No problem. Just have your daughter run a 5 minute mile. Easy peasey.

Most people (due to time constraints & lack of “mental endurance”) don’t run enough mileage to realize their true potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:XC/distance track is a sport that your child can start doing around 8th-10th grade and still become good enough to be recruited at, especially if you’re a girl. If they’ve been into swimming, soccer or basketball before thar, that will be very helpful. I would recommend your daughter train intensively (including with private coaching) and run on her schools XC & track teams in 9th-12th. You want her to peak around 11th grade. Aim for around 5:00 1600 time for NESCAC, UAA & Patriot League schools.

No problem. Just have your daughter run a 5 minute mile. Easy peasey.

None of the possibilities mentioned on this thread are going to be easy. If they were, they wouldn’t be worth doing/accomplishing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:XC/distance track is a sport that your child can start doing around 8th-10th grade and still become good enough to be recruited at, especially if you’re a girl. If they’ve been into swimming, soccer or basketball before thar, that will be very helpful. I would recommend your daughter train intensively (including with private coaching) and run on her schools XC & track teams in 9th-12th. You want her to peak around 11th grade. Aim for around 5:00 1600 time for NESCAC, UAA & Patriot League schools.

No problem. Just have your daughter run a 5 minute mile. Easy peasey.

Just have your kid grow an extra 8 inches, hire a private coach and make sure they play club and varsity basket ball for at least 6 years.