Gilding the college-bound
- Thread starter WillJoy
- Start date
NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
When I do college interviews, nothing screams more inauthentic than the fancy "volunteer" trip to some third world country so the kid can say they experienced poverty first hand and write their college essay on it. And ummm, most if not all college admissions people can see right through "decorating". But hey, if spending five figures to decorate your kid makes you sleep better at night, by all means
So your telling me, that you discredit people who volunteer and help people in third world countries?
To me volunteering to build a school or volunteering to dig a well for water is greater experience than someone volunteering to pick up trash at Santa Monica beach.
That is why this poor Uni High student stood NO chance of getting into Harvard.http://m.ocregister.com/articles/song-664550-school-high.html
Everything was working against her:
1) Going to Uni ... Check
2) Asian ... Check
3) Plays Cello ... Check
4) Volunteered in Africa--Guaranteed rejection by Bones ... Check
irvinehusky
New member
I remember someone posted a while back about some guy that had a sliding scale depending on the results. Do these outfits give any sort of minimum guarantees? Hopefully, not to IVCC. 
kiki said:
Specifically, I'd like to know (as I'm too lazy and reluctant to find out myself) whether this type of service would direct you at certain activities or even provide activities that would boost you point on extra curricular activities.
I worry that I would sign up only to discover that I have to do most of the leg work and none of the recommended list of activities would stand out, such as packing pumpkins at Albertson's for charity.
I heard that some company would organize trips overseas for students. How is going on a fancy trip going to help the college application? What if we can't afford such extravagance?
I worry that I would sign up only to discover that I have to do most of the leg work and none of the recommended list of activities would stand out, such as packing pumpkins at Albertson's for charity.
I heard that some company would organize trips overseas for students. How is going on a fancy trip going to help the college application? What if we can't afford such extravagance?
I wonder how effective this 'packaging' can be in real life. I'd expect the admission offices to distinguish the type of credentials money can buy from those a kid will have to earn through his/her own ingenuity and weigh these differently.
I also wonder how admission offices interpret the meaning of 'leadership'. Do I have to be the president of a club what 'leads' a crowd, or can I just focus on an interest by directing/leading myself? Sadly, sometimes (as my wife would often complain about how I don't pay attention to this topic) the college application process seems to have evolved into a self-promoting/bragging contest. Maybe one day it will take into account of the number of your FB likes and twitter followers. Or maybe they do that already?
I also wonder how admission offices interpret the meaning of 'leadership'. Do I have to be the president of a club what 'leads' a crowd, or can I just focus on an interest by directing/leading myself? Sadly, sometimes (as my wife would often complain about how I don't pay attention to this topic) the college application process seems to have evolved into a self-promoting/bragging contest. Maybe one day it will take into account of the number of your FB likes and twitter followers. Or maybe they do that already?
WillJoy said:
When I do college interviews, nothing screams more inauthentic than the fancy "volunteer" trip to some third world country so the kid can say they experienced poverty first hand and write their college essay on it. And ummm, most if not all college admissions people can see right through "decorating". But hey, if spending five figures to decorate your kid makes you sleep better at night, by all means
zubs
Well-known member
Why did you go to Africa and work with the poor?
So I can get in your school or somewhere equivalent.
So you didn't do it because you wanted the world to be a better place or some form of inner altruism?
No, the only reason I did it was to get in your school, but something happened to me while I was over there. I realized how poor the world can be and it opened my eyes to my own selfishness and taught me what is most important in life.
And what is that?
MONEY!~~~~HELL YEAH!!!!..<<dance around the interviewer>>
So I can get in your school or somewhere equivalent.
So you didn't do it because you wanted the world to be a better place or some form of inner altruism?
No, the only reason I did it was to get in your school, but something happened to me while I was over there. I realized how poor the world can be and it opened my eyes to my own selfishness and taught me what is most important in life.
And what is that?
MONEY!~~~~HELL YEAH!!!!..<<dance around the interviewer>>
bones said:WillJoy said:
When I do college interviews, nothing screams more inauthentic than the fancy "volunteer" trip to some third world country so the kid can say they experienced poverty first hand and write their college essay on it. And ummm, most if not all college admissions people can see right through "decorating". But hey, if spending five figures to decorate your kid makes you sleep better at night, by all means
So your telling me, that you discredit people who volunteer and help people in third world countries?
To me volunteering to build a school or volunteering to dig a well for water is greater experience than someone volunteering to pick up trash at Santa Monica beach.
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
In Shanghai and Beijing there are many College consultants, They are Americans with ties and history with the top ranking schools. They have been very successful in creating convincing personas for their clients to convince admission officers. The cost to target the top 50 ranked colleges is $120k US with no guarantee results. A bonus of another $150k will guarantee one acceptance to one of the top 50 colleges on the Forbes list. Locally, kids at their freshmen years college consultants start creating staged internet trails and Facebook accolades with purchased "likes" for the kids resume. Annually 8,000 Chinese foreign students are expelled from US universities for cheating and failing grades.
Thanks, IHS. This is eye-opening. I didn't know you can actually 'buy' popularity. What's the going rate for each 'like'? Maybe I can start a ponzi scheme based on just that. Cha-ching!!!
Update: Just found this. I must've been living in a hole all these year.
http://www.quora.com/How-much-would-it-cost-to-buy-a-Like-on-Facebook
Update: Just found this. I must've been living in a hole all these year.
http://www.quora.com/How-much-would-it-cost-to-buy-a-Like-on-Facebook
iacrenter
Well-known member
eyephone said:bones said:WillJoy said:
When I do college interviews, nothing screams more inauthentic than the fancy "volunteer" trip to some third world country so the kid can say they experienced poverty first hand and write their college essay on it. And ummm, most if not all college admissions people can see right through "decorating". But hey, if spending five figures to decorate your kid makes you sleep better at night, by all means
So your telling me, that you discredit people who volunteer and help people in third world countries?
To me volunteering to build a school or volunteering to dig a well for water is greater experience than someone volunteering to pick up trash at Santa Monica beach.
That is why this poor Uni High student stood NO chance of getting into Harvard.http://m.ocregister.com/articles/song-664550-school-high.html
Everything was working against her:
1) Going to Uni ... Check
2) Asian ... Check
3) Plays Cello ... Check
4) Volunteered in Africa--Guaranteed rejection by Bones ... Check