People saying that doing very unique things for college apps does not work are dreaming. In the modern era, being very "pointy" is now critical for a top 20 college. This means many "accomplishments" in the same field such as a nonprofit, publishing a book, doing major scientific research, ect. All backed up by top grades and test scores and many AP classes. Obviously, almost no kid can do all of this on their own, so there is definitely exaggeration and lying going on, and their is also a team of the mom, dad, kid, essay coach, and possibly a consultant and others working to get all of this done over the course of 2-3 years.

Anonymous wrote:My kid started a lawn business
😂

And these types of things are the most believable. Especially if they can talk about something they’ve learned about environmentalism, stewardship, the land, being a good neighbor….

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole college admissions is BS and a game.

From these fake nonprofits to hiring college consultants, including essay reviewers and, in some cases, writers.

It's just all BS.

The only measurable factors are the grades and test scores. Yea, you can hire tutors for them, but you, the student, still has to take the tests and do the work.

Agreed so what do you do for a kid who wants to go to a top school when everyone else's parents are piling on the BS?

There's not much evidence that the BS works.

Then why do so many people hire college consultants?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teen actually has started a modestly profitable business (not huge amounts of money but a legit side hustle, profit is about 2k per month currently) and I don’t even know that he’ll mention it because we all assume admissions people would think it was bogus.

Don't handicap your kid...absolutely mention it. Admissions will not think it is bogus...you are giving them too much credit.

Actually. I think admissions are pretty good at discerning real from inflated or fictitious.

I think the kids that get in sometimes do so in spite of this stuff or because it screams wealthy. It doesn't seem as common as some here would like (maybe to justify their own cheating).

Anonymous wrote:My kid started a lawn business
😂

Listen, a friend of mine in HS did that and built a huge business. Bought himself a fancy car.

My kid makes good money pet sitting and being a birthday party entertainer. So I guess she's got 2 businesses! She listed both but no dollar amounts. Great money for a kid but nothing truly noteworthy. The nature of her party entertainment work did add to the narrative of her app, though. In early at T10.

Anonymous wrote:Even if your kid could magically get in to the places that have admit these questionable non-profit and foundation starters - you gotta ask yourself - are these people you want your kid to be surrounded by? Or would they be better off at a "less prestigious" place surrounded by kind and smart people??

In actuality, the # of kids that end up doing all these bogus NPOs and what not is still very small.

Anonymous wrote:My teen actually has started a modestly profitable business (not huge amounts of money but a legit side hustle, profit is about 2k per month currently) and I don’t even know that he’ll mention it because we all assume admissions people would think it was bogus.

Don't handicap your kid...absolutely mention it. Admissions will not think it is bogus...you are giving them too much credit.

Even if your kid could magically get in to the places that have admit these questionable non-profit and foundation starters - you gotta ask yourself - are these people you want your kid to be surrounded by? Or would they be better off at a "less prestigious" place surrounded by kind and smart people??

My kid started a lawn business
😂

My teen actually has started a modestly profitable business (not huge amounts of money but a legit side hustle, profit is about 2k per month currently) and I don’t even know that he’ll mention it because we all assume admissions people would think it was bogus.

Anonymous wrote:Having one signals to the AO your parents are rich and stupid enough to hire the kind of consultant who profits making this stuff up... Which in turn signals to the college that your parents will give them $

This.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it. At a recent school info session, we were handed a document new from 2024 that showed how many non profit starters there were who were admitted ED and EA so far.

Can you please make the school so we can stay away?

Name not make, sorry. I can’t spell on Tuesdays.

They aren’t all fake. This was 20+ years ago but I started an animal training business when I was 15, and kept it going until I started law school. I paid for most of my law school with the profits. Fast forward 20 years and I have an animal training business again that is profitable. I just really enjoy the work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don't or they would.

BTW, is that a $3MM start-up or a $3,000 startup?

$3M. That's the going figure thst parents are telling their kids to value their business at. Some are more. How do you run a real business while going to school full time and playing sports? You can't.

I actually know a child who really does this. But he is not going (or applying ) to college after his senior year and is going to run his business (streaming video game clips so no save the world stuff) for a few years and save money for student loans.

But that is real life not an admissions essay. Anyhow…

It works.