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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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? [/quote]
- 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.[/quote]

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?[/quote]

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.[/quote]

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

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