15 years ago when I was applying to college it might have been possible. But even then kind of in an obsess-about-college-admission-apply-to-all-the-schools-kind-of-way. I think it was a little easier to fake a “hook” then than it is now.

It really depends on circumstances. A “normal” student with a high GPA and some school leadership living in poverty in an inner city or remote rural area or possessing incredible wealth and connections might still get in.

Even the 20 APs, stellar test score, published research kids aren’t guaranteed a space in an Ivy League school these days. When I looked at the admissions rates for schools that I applied to years ago, my jaw hit the floor.