You already know how tough it is to get into top schools, perhaps even a school you went to. There seems to be no formula; it’s all already been done. That once basic foundation of lots of AP classes, top SATs, “serious” participation in a sport or two rounded out with a dash of clubs or volunteering — it’s all positively quaint now.

So, in preparation, you’ve already started donating to pave the way for your as-yet unborn offspring.

And then of course there’s another out-of-the-box idea — don’t get accepted by a top school? Why not just go, anyway? That’s what 18-yo Azia Kim, a SoCal native, pulled off, at least for 8 months. Kim managed to even lodge in two separate dorms at Stanford, without an ID card or a key, leaving her room window open to get in and out.

The Stanford community seems pretty shocked, but I don’t think this kind of thing is that rare. I remember having a semi-imposter around in my college days as well. He slept in lounges and various places and got in through the help of students. My advice to those that are that desperate is to just enroll into Continuing Education or General Studies, or better yet, realize that big name schools don’t mean all that much except to those that go, of course
Related: Coverage on Stanford Daily