WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools

[Anonymous]

This has been going on for a long time.

I know kids who didn’t want to pull a semester or two at MC, so they took a back door to UMCP.

Some schools offer a program where students enroll in the summer and do study abroad before living on campus. (I can think of a dozen schools that do this.)

I know kids whose parents move them into fancy digs adjacent to campus and they do community college nearby or online before transferring to finish their degree at the flagship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everybody knows Harvard extension is like the “Great Courses” dvd series. What these kids in the WSJ are doing is different.

What's the difference?

Harvard Extension also has (or had) in-person classes taught by faculty.

I don't see the comparison at all. Or has Harvard Extension completely changed? There is no official transfer pathway and I suspect the chances of transferring in are extraordinarily low. There are no Harvard Extension dorms and living close by in Cambdridge off-campus is crazy expensive. It would be very hard to be part of the culture like the kids in this article.

I do think Boston College has an official pathway program. I forget what it's called but it is considered a "backdoor" though I think it is more like Vancerbilt's Verto program, where you can't request it. It is offered to you instead of a flat-out rejection. But unlike the abroad programs it is close-by.

[Anonymous]

BU has CGS.

[Anonymous]

Columbia Global Studies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TLDR; kids who don’t get accepted to big flagships are just enrolling in online program, moving near campus and doing everything else like regular undergrads. Schools make money, kids are happy.

It’s pretty smart, honestly.

+1

Why are we begrudging people for using a program the university established? We want people to go to college, but then demean certain methods of doing that if they aren’t “traditional?”

They see education as a competitive tool, not a way to improve society.

Yep, we don't have an aristocracy in this country, but we've replaced it with college "prestige". Humans will always try to find a way to feel superior over others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TLDR; kids who don’t get accepted to big flagships are just enrolling in online program, moving near campus and doing everything else like regular undergrads. Schools make money, kids are happy.

It’s pretty smart, honestly.

+1

Why are we begrudging people for using a program the university established? We want people to go to college, but then demean certain methods of doing that if they aren’t “traditional?”

They see education as a competitive tool, not a way to improve society.

Yep, we don't have an aristocracy in this country, but we've replaced it with college "prestige". Humans will always try to find a way to feel superior over others.

Yes, because higher status leads to more/better breeding opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, because higher status leads to more/better breeding opportunities.

Oh goody, eugenics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would be interested if a private school with a reputation (not Northeastern) started doing this.

Cornell did something similar this when I was an undergrad 20+ years ago- students were admitted as January freshmen- filled seats but didn't impact college ranking- isn't that what this is really getting around?

[Anonymous]

Colleges with a lot of study abroad students (most do study abroad in the spring) use spring admits to fill these missing seats. It is all about revenue maximization.