Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 13:44     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:I always thought the primary purpose of going to college was to get the degree for better job opportunities. The college experience is just a byproduct.


But standards are being lowered if 1200 SAT 3.4UW kids get into UF via a backdoor if my kid needed a 1500+ and 3.9uw. What does that say about the classes and value of that degree?? Unless the weed out is real and these kids are all communications or sports management or elementary ed majors.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 13:35     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
I always thought the primary purpose of going to college was to get the degree for better job opportunities. The college experience is just a byproduct.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 13:18     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Columbia General Studies is the best.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 13:12     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:The alternative pathways are at other schools as well. Some schools send kids overseas for the first semester (FSU, UNC Chapel Hill), UMD has freshman connection. This is UF’s version. The students don’t seem to mind but it does make Gainesville more crowded. I don’t think they can live on campus and do pay less in tuition. There is also a smaller school called Santa Fe in Gainesville that transfers kids into UF.


Came in here to mention this. I knew UF would be mentioned because of the online program, but before that was an option, transferring in from SFC was the backdoor method of choice. Students have been figuring out another way in for a while.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 12:06     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:Why not be adjacent and on a pathway to the full experience?

The kids at Santa Barbara City College have dorms right next to UCSB. They all socialize together. And the SBCC kids who perform well then feed directly into UCSB for their last two years, and graduate from UCSB.

The total cost is so affordable! And the social life is not disjointed in the middle by the academic transfer.

I wish there were more set up like this.


This is a popular choice but dorm space is limited. Housing for regular UCSB students is limited!
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 11:17     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No difference with regular UF ... most freshman classes are online anyway


Not true.


In case you don’t already know, there’s a lot of jealousy on this forum of the state flagships in Florida and Texas.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 11:17     Subject: Re: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:This is so cringe 😬. But if the kids are happy, then let them be.


Explain why it is cringe.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 11:11     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
The alternative pathways are at other schools as well. Some schools send kids overseas for the first semester (FSU, UNC Chapel Hill), UMD has freshman connection. This is UF’s version. The students don’t seem to mind but it does make Gainesville more crowded. I don’t think they can live on campus and do pay less in tuition. There is also a smaller school called Santa Fe in Gainesville that transfers kids into UF.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 11:08     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:No difference with regular UF ... most freshman classes are online anyway


Not true.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 11:02     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Why not be adjacent and on a pathway to the full experience?

The kids at Santa Barbara City College have dorms right next to UCSB. They all socialize together. And the SBCC kids who perform well then feed directly into UCSB for their last two years, and graduate from UCSB.

The total cost is so affordable! And the social life is not disjointed in the middle by the academic transfer.

I wish there were more set up like this.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:51     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Everybody knows Harvard extension is like the “Great Courses” dvd series. What these kids in the WSJ are doing is different.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:46     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Would be interested if a private school with a reputation (not Northeastern) started doing this.


Harvard Extension?


Also the pay to play summer school
at the elite colleges.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:45     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Anonymous wrote:Would be interested if a private school with a reputation (not Northeastern) started doing this.


Harvard Extension?
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:36     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
Would be interested if a private school with a reputation (not Northeastern) started doing this.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:08     Subject: WSJ Article: Students Are Using a ‘Backdoor’ to Attend Their Dream Schools
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?”