Unit 5 - Students Absolutely Must Learn: Fill & Download for Free

Here is what I have found after working with kids and talking at length with many college admissions to find the college admissions secrets…These are some great tips and secrets to help you navigate the process:Grades, grades, grades and then more grades. Not for every school, but you can’t camouflage or sugar coat or breath spray great grades. Colleges usually count this as the all important factor and with so many kids applying, they may not even look at your application if it’s not in their general GPA ballpark. So make sure you hit it out.Many schools don’t care much about extracurriculars like most of the UC schools, especially UC San Diego or UC Irvine and yet in contrast, the Ivy’s really do care about your activities (that is if you are also close to their standard run of the mill grade and SAT criteria- about a 3.85/4.0 and 1560 SAT)-it’s what separates the standard from the standout(s). If you don’t have them, don’t apply unless it’s Cornell which loves all As, a 1560 SAT and then to top it off, you will likely also need to have great leadership and/or be very involved in campus and do something related to your major and your magically going to be accepted.I know this from spending hours at seminars and speaking to their admissions directors. You don’t need great activities here, but do need to show them you’ll fully take advantage of every type of club and similar activities on campus.They want leaders and doers (not sleepers) at Cornell.The other Ivy’s “secret sauce” if you will, is that the others want insane world or national championship caliber activities only. You have to be in a different league (and why they probably call it the Ivy League-kidding as you know).“Holistic reviews” are a great “buzz word,” but each school has a secret type of the student they want and you can learn that by what students they admit and who they accept and by studying the scores of admitted students too. It’s tough at first,but the patterns do emerge and as it should be. Every school has its special requirements and admit students that are the right fit.Admissions directors are paid to get applications and do a great job with “PR” encouraging everyone who speaks to them to apply and think they have a good chance when under there breath its more like (“Good luck with just playing the piano and in the school choir with all A’s and a 1500 SAT.” Instead, you’ll hear, “Sure we would love to have you apply.” They actually do a great job of getting the information out there and really have to keep their secrets close to the vest or no one who doesn’t even closely meet there requirements will apply right? Would you apply to schools you have almost no shot of getting in? Now after reading this, I hope you won’t or will limit those longshots. And its our job, as such, to uncover those secrets or closely held information. Acceptance and denials tell you much of what you need to know.And the more people the top schools like U Chicago can turn away, the higher the rankings of the school which is why they love to advertise in “bulk mailings” designed to look personal with your name on it where they paid the college board for your information that “we would love to have you at our school and we’re very interested in you” and sadly they’re probably not. But your application fee is needed for a great cause…to pay for special financial consideration for so many students who do need financial aid. So here’s a little secret…when you get those letters, unless you see one telling you that with a certain GPA you’ll get a scholarship tell your kids to “always recycle the trash.” It’s a great lesson.A lot of people want to be National Merit Finalist (16000 earn this designation annually) and my son was but it on average, after what we learned, it will barely helps you get into the top schools. Most schools don’t even look at it. But there are some schools that do actively recruit National Merit students because they too can advertise that they have 200 National Merit Finalist at schools like Baylor University the U of Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, University of Texas Dallas and University of Oklahoma who absolutely love it.If a school offers a National Merit scholarships like the ones in the link below (or for any set and defined scholarships based on an exact GPA or test score, (and some of these schools below generally do), you really have just hit the educational equivalent of the national lottery. You can also “google” for any school you may want to attend the following: “scholarships at U of Alabama or ____.” But please don’t tell anyone about this list of schools below or this search that helped is get many scholarships and it’s not just for narional merit since these schools are usually also the one who life straight A or 1550 SAT kids and have a great scholarship program in place. In other words check and hopefully check mate mate. You will be blown away by this list (and it’s. A great too not just for National Merit Finalists but if you have almost all As or 1550 SAT. Again please don’t tell anyone since our little secret (see below #10)For any of these merit scholarships (and most are guaranteed if you qualify), do apply to many of these schools because they do want you, it’s a great almost guaranteed admit and you’ll be a VIP, getting special enrollment, first chose of roommates and classes, special forums and events to attend and it’s easy if you do well getting into a top PhD program as a big fish in a small pond with easier competition since you're the star there (if you study hard).Guard this list with your life and it will warm your heart (and checkbook)…drum roll: NMF Scholarships (use it if you are a National Merit Finalist or an A close to all A student or 1550/35 ACT (or even lower in some cases lien a 31 ACT) to look up at least in some cases like ASU, U Arizona and U Alabama for their other great scholarships. They really want top students and offer these fixed scholarships anyone with high grades or test scores to get these kids away from the ivys and top 50. Again guard the list with your life. It got my son 10 close to full rides and why did he have to choose UC Davis over these full rides - why me? That is another secret- have them pay themselves if they don’t take a full ride. What was I thinking?The Ivy’s really don’t care at all about National Merit Finalist award. I would believe that if you don’t have a national merit that they would probably look at the application oddly. Kidding, but sort of.Two schools in the country, for their 75% percentile, actually want all A’s and unless you’re a special admit, you have as much chance of getting in as winning the state lottery. Ready and they are UCLA and Cornell and you didn’t hear it from me. The school statements may try to change or breath mint these facts, but the reality of their numbers prove otherwise. Be a perfect high school student or don’t apply and I’m not kidding. Even special admit students at UCLA need a 3.92 GPA out of a 4.0 for their 25th percentile and why they call it special indeed. But it’s our little secret. Ask around and I can almost guarantee that is close to a fact and in fact I know 50 out of 50 non special admits at UCLA who didn't get in without all As and the 4 who did got in had all As as advertised. I’m sure there are exceptions to any rule just not many here. Yep, the deck is stacked at UCLA with a lot of bright straight A students as this great school should be. But don’t apply and save your parents 100 dollars if you don’t have all As as a regular admit. It’s not a reach, but a pipe dream even if a couple of kids probably do get in with some unusual situation due to a few openings.Cal Tech and MIT want a perfect 800 or 36 in math and that’s pretty much a necessity to get in for a non-special admit students (and it’s actually listed as proof on their websites overall with some statistically anomalies on rare occasions-you want to be well done and not “rare” when applying here). It’s the kids they feel they need to be successful here at this intense university (again as it should be). Heck, even the special admit students like first-time college students, American Indian and African American or for those kids and families where they don’t speak with English at home the 25th percentile generally speaking need a 780 in math to be at the 25% percentile. In other words, just do the math to see if you should apply. That and a national robotics title may (should help). With just about 1000 spots worldwide, you’ll absolutely have to prove you are one of the smartest kids in the world by having some major accomplishment - not a regional science award winner but again that is a little secret and why I told a kid I mentor not to apply this year and he did. He didn’t get inDream big but please spend your money wisely and selectively on top 50 ranked school applications. I’m seeing the last three years so many wonderful all A students and also ones with 4.3 GPA and 1500–1560 SAT and great extracurriculars activities getting rejected from every single top 20 school and for these star kids with a 4.3 kids, from every top 50 school (that or bad coaching more likely from me but that’s another secret right-dont listen to anything I say). Just today, they broke the news to a great kid and this no ordinary student with a 4.3 GPA and 1560 SAT and quality extracurriculars too like a regional silver in academic decathalon. But it wasn’t not enough rocket fuel for MIT or CalTech, UCLA and USC (he did hit it big at 95th ranked UC Riveride and 87th Santa Cruz as his only top 100 spots. He was completely shell shocked and I warned him last year and thankfully he listened to some advise by applying to schools outside the top 50. Other kids this year with all As and 1550 were rejected from UCLA, USC and the ivys, but luckily had some great and wise choices by getting into the rest of the top UC schools (Berkeley Davis, Irvine, Santa Barbara and San Diego all top 50). They were smart to not expect admits into any top 30 schools and each hit with Berkeley as their single choice (if that isn’t a lottery pick then what is but all others weren’t interested. It was a wake call for me too. It’s gotten impossible to get in.Here is a little helpful secret and please don’t tell anyone… Generally, the top students at each high school with high SAT almost always will nail admission into the top Public schools in state-great school like U Michigan, U Washington or UCLA/Berkeley, U Colorado etc so do apply to these schools liberally in state. Why? They know in state students will probably attend due to the inexpensive tuition and you might find yourself with limited top private school selection so do use this great tip wisely even if you don’t love going to say Utah State. The kid listed above with a 4.3 GPA is now loving UC Riverside- a school he wasn’t going to apply to (but my convincing)! has him so excited now as he should be to have a top 100 college to attend. It’s a great feeling to get into a super school like Riverside or Michigan State. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. State schools are phenomenal and in par with any school in the country. Leave your egos at the door and you should be beaming with pride to get in. These are special places.There are only 12,000 Ivy League spots open annually and yet there are about 44,000 public and private high schools in the United States. In other words, if you remove international students and about 35% of the applicants which do you go to athletes according to a major recent article on this matter (Google it). And thus, your high school basically has about a one in six shot of getting a single student to the Ivys annually. The deck is a long shot number wise and don’t think your chances are ever great about getting in. Sure if you have top stats, why wouldn’t you apply, but have many many other wonderful choices. Duke and Northwestern and Hopkins are phenomenal world class schools and they love to feast on these kids who don’t have national caliber titles but do have top notch grades scores and activities too so apply liberally to the non Ivy’s for a great shot if your a top student. Again it’s our little secret since everyone wants the Ivy’s and these are much better shots for most top kids. But they still typically don’t take your average A- and 1400 SAT kid playing varsity soccer. They may occasionally, but you have to be top top top student to get in here as well-just not win a national title etc. a state title may work or something high caliber is very important too.And yet if you happen to go to a famous elite private school like Harvard Westlake in Los Angeles (and with 275 seniors only), they miraculously get five kids in annually to Harvard and five into Stanford…surprise surprise (and they boast about it on there website or they used to anyways). Yep it’s the famous old-school, old admissions are alive and well. And as it should be since these kids who got in are heavily vetted with tests that are much tougher than the SAT and a process that makes getting a membership to Augusta Golf Club look pretty easy. Yep it’s a nice chip shot from these schools into the ivy’s as a good student but a round (or year to attend) will set you back $45000 a year (per kid). And for many it’s worth it.Need blind financial aid is not always the case at some schools as per expert comments stating that it can affect your application process -just check with some people on Quora. It usually won’t affect your outcome but the rumors say that it can. I would still apply if you need the money though.Your stated major can actually affect your admissions at many but not all schools. The best are odd ones like Arabic studies or Greek studies or Chinese studies and something that few others study. My nephew got into USC with solid, but not spectacular scores writing about which classes on history he wanted to take and why and his application never made the history pile. It was a modern classic his acceptance and then he changed majors the following year. A straight A kid is now fortunately going to Berkeley undeclared because I suggested that with Berkeley being number 1 in the country for computer science he could have trouble getting in so he applied undeclared. For schools he was way above the 75th percentile for grades and scores like UCSD and UC Irvine, he applied and got into their computer science and he loved Berkeley and said he’ll go and he can still take some classes and if he does well get a BA in it or another field since he’s ok doing many stem majors. This is a highly intelligent kid who listened without any ego and now is going to his dream school. Be very skilled and layer your admission approach so you have so many more Great options. Those who don’t use these types of creative techniques from my perspective usually end up with very few school choices. Let the kids themselves within reason decide, but now they will have so many more wonderful choices and this gives them confidence to be very proud of what he accomplished. It also gives them the essential healthy esteem they need to move on from the college rejections they will get and really be excited about college.Computer science is a big “no no” for most kids unless you aced the SAT and have top grades too and elite scores higher than the standard admit. You want to come from a position of strength. it makes sense in any impacted or heavily applied majors because the admitted kids are usually extremely high performing test takers on average-ok above average is more like it. It’s very competitive and as such do make sure you can add it as a major because that too could be a major problem as well. If your scores are well above the 75th percentile, then yes apply. At some public schools like UCLA the major won’t hurt or help your chances so ask these question first to the admissions office (call is email them for a fast response) and they will always let you know if your major is a “major” deal or minor (puny right?).Another secret is that yes over 40% of kids end up changing majors anyways and so determine if that is an angle you want to play at a few dream schools anyways (or at schools that you are not that into). But more importantly do what is right for you. One son got into UC Davis and NYU by applying to NYU for its very general…general studies even though he wanted computer science and to Davis for economics (supply and demand made that a smarter decision). But to make sure he had some great choices he did apply to computer science at some great schools like U Alabama and U Arizona because his stats were a bit higher for then and it worked out with a lot of great choices. It usually does make sense to take this more layered or latter approach. Our family had to learn the hard way from our oldest son who was rejected by 16/16 top 50 schools for computer science, but he did get a shot at a top 100 school since it’s not as ultra competitive. And the funny part was you guessed it…he changed majors which I believe impacted his school choices. You do want to have a lot of great college options when all is said and done. For computer science (pre med, physics, any engineering major or business at any top school, please do use care and be aware of the difficulty of getting accepted. But these are all great majors as well. For computer science, most kids studying it love the degree and with 50,000 kids getting USA computer science degrees yearly, it’s one of many reasons why it’s so difficult to get in.The schools want you to believe that you can’t bring up your SAT score, but my kids raised their scores from 1200-1560 and 1000 to 1460 with special, elite test prep. It was ridiculous (and ridiculously priced too) but it did get one son many full ride offers even though he had to pick the more expensive school. I should have told him son, you have two choices —pay for the college yourself or I’ll pay for it with a scholarship but I got sucker punched twice. What was I thinking? “But dad I love my school.” My wallet isn’t loving it but it worked out for him so it’s worth it in select cases. You will know.One of the best kept secrets to getting into colleges is (mathematically) to apply to at least 20 schools that you have a shot at getting in. The one son with tons of scholarships applied to 33 schools and it worked wonders. He had a slightly lower GPA and a top SAT score so I didn’t know where he’d get in so like fly swatting blind fold (sort off) we went college fly swatting and caught some flies (and fleas too) with many rejects as expected. The top 30 schools were all fleas and gave us the old collar and a few nice wait lists as U Chicago so nicely does. It’s there nice way of saying no thank you. But we were thankful and respect them for this nice touch. Work hard in school (and your applications) now and as a result enjoy a great college later. Or by default, community college will be calling to many who take the path of least resistance. No pain and no gain. Don’t worry you'll gain a fresh 10 in college anyways so it may as well be at one you love.To have a great shot, if your special and not a special admit is to target the key demarcation line of 75 percentile for your grades and SAT scores and at any school listing, this information as almost all admissions coaches and experts tell you this is a realistic shot for admissions. It’s certainly not a guarantee but a decent chance, a shot at selection. If your also “special” and a special admit, you will really want to focus in on the 25th percentile line. Anything below that mark is a reach school and anything above is safer school (but you are never safe). These days you really need a “safety net” with a lot of schools, but no school is really a safety school anymore in the days of mass student applications and some really high test scores from elite test preps. Use the common apps to apply to an uncommon number of great schools and then you’ll have many wonderful schools to attend. When college gives you lemons (a tough admissions process),simply make lemon aid and add a lot of sugar to sweeten up the outcome. You will need a “twist.”I see many kids I help mentor with 4.3/4.6 GPA including many AP classes and 1500 Sat or 33 ACT scores who get rejected by almost every top 50 school. Be very careful to have many choices since the admit rate is brutal these days and think about the top five students at each high school that your competing with that have these stats or better and with same or better activities. We like to feel we’re special with all of these accolades, but so are so many others with even more impressive accolades. Think of it as like a fun game of poker where you have a sizeable stack of chips that you won but someone else at the table has more than you.Waitlists are part of the waiting game and you have a possible chance at each school so always say yes that your interested if you are, but do let schools know immediately if not as a courtesy to others. My UC Davis son said that many of his friends were waitlisted so it’s is a possible chance of admissions. And here’s a little secret we discovered last year by accident- If it’s a private school, visit on a regular tour near the freshman enrollment deadline and do let them know nicely how grateful you are that you are a “waitlistee“ (a new word in the American Heritage Dictionary now) and you’ll be surprised when like my sons’s close friend how they pulled him aside and offered him a spot few minutes into the tour as they did at 14th ranked Vanderbilt. Why… part of successs is showing up (and demonstrated interest) so he hit the jackpot therein on a whim to visit. And if you think about it, this was a brilliant move showing interest at a key point in time. Check and chekcmate (mate) for being brilliant and showing up) but he actually also got in the waitlist at UC Santa Barbara too and went there (he had 6 waitlist and 2 acceptances from them and after taking tours too. It more difficult at a public school though. But give it the old college try and try this army tactic if you will. Show up at the admissions office of the school that you were waitlisted at and ask to speak to admissions directors (not the front desk person) and let them know it’s your dream school and then magically you just might end up waking up from a dream and into your dream school. sometimes kids get in a week after school has started and will abandon ship for their dream school.If you get into a school like U Alabama ranked 120 or so— this is an amazing school as is U of Arizona or Baylor. It’s someone’s dream school so if you get in and then visit and be proud of getting into these or other amazing schools. Hold your head up high at any admitted school and be proud. It’s truly a special honor and one that few in the country get to have. Schools outside the top 20 or 40 are unbelievable and you should be so excited to go to a school that the school which chose you feels you are a perfect fit. They know best. And the competition is a little easier at a school where the average is a 3.3 GPA than competing against almost all A students at UCLA. I’m not saying by any means turn down UCLA but the glass here is really half full and not empty wherever you go so look at the bright side (and upside too) for you to ace college and get into a top grad school.This is a huge secret…and a fact, a reality, a truism and it will save you from transferring in two years from a bad fit college. Trust me it happened to me at Santa Barbara as I was encouraged to save money and not go to USC-huge mistake and two years later I was loving USC every waking moment (when I did awake-joking mostly). The key determiner where you go for college for four years of your life (many take 6 years now so choose carefully) should be how well you get along with others here so talk to many students and staff and make sure you would absolutely enjoy being there for four years and not because it’s ranked 10 spots higher than the other. I would choose the lower ranked school in a heartbeat if it’s a much better fit (and you get in). Big fish in small ponds become PhD students (or masters) at top 30 colleges. This is the most underrated and least utilized secret in the list and read it twice or you’ll transfer and hate your school. Maybe this was why I had a bit of a soft spot for my sons choice of Davis over Alabama and it worked out since he loved the school…if you don’t love it don’t attend please. Would you marry someone you like and not love? Of course not and the same holds for college. “Love it or you’ll leave it.”The schools themselves really know where you fit in and if you don’t get in to your Dream school, it’s perfect so just study harder and then prove it to them when you go to their grad school.State public schools like U Michigan or U Texas give major advantages to in state students so buyer beware. You have a major advantage generally being a top student and applying in state… I must state. For example, U Texas is amazing school that everyone in Texas should have at the top of the list. However with only 10% of out of state students getting in (hint you’ll get into top 20 schools as well and probably won’t go here) so why apply unless it’s your dream to attend from out of state. The UC are a better choice for out of state kids…Why? because they take 2–4x as many kids As U Texas and the competition is actually usually easier than from the intense in state California competition, since you are actually only competing against that group of kids. And it’s the same for international spots but they also take much less than national kids. I have found it’s actually a bit easily to get in at the UC schools especially internationally than from the intense CA beauty pageant going on in state. At the UC schools, the very elite out of state kids are usually targeting the ivys so if you are just a smidgen below, you will have a statistically better batting average at the UC schools choice. In state, Texas is a brilliant choice as a top Texas student and people don’t realize what an underrated and amazing place it is and not just for football. U Michigan is one of the best schools in the world too if you get in here too. The top public schools are phenomenal and all under rated by the polls. if you are a top student always target your best two state schools even as back up targets so you’ll hit a bullseye regardless. Let’s keep this public secret private ok?So many kids are focused just on the top ranked schools, but if you also focus on the schools ranked 70–150th (and those unranked) , which are phenomenal btw, with top GPA or SAT scores you’ll likely get some incredible schooling and scholarship offers. Some of the best scholarship secrets are schools like U Alabama, U Oklahoma (it’s better than OK), U Arizona, Arizona State, LSU (they even tell you how much you’ll earn with their on site scholarship calculator so calculate your savings and bag a great admit too with a very high SAT score or GPA (and sometimes with a 3.5 GPA or 1300 SAT. These are smart application choice because admissions at a reduced rate is almost guaranteed. Have some great choices out of the gate. You’ll relax on your other applications.Life can be a breeze … if you get into many of the UC schools since its surprisingly still somewhat of a secret that many are in some of the best and most beautiful places in the world. UC Santa Barbara overlooks a scenic cliff on the Pacific Ocean and to chill or ”chillax,” the kids walk to the sandy beach off campus (Sorry Harvard and Chicago) but the school is breezy,and easy (ier) and a great choice if you stand the admissions heat (I mean sunshine). Ditto for UC San Diego. La Jolla is considered the nicest part of San Diego and it’s an incredible city with beachfront cliffs. Most students will you love it here and some take up surfing if you want (or shopping). likewise, UC Irvine is 10 short minutes from famous Newport Beach, the best and most scenic beach city in Orange County with the best surfing, shopping and scenery anywhere in California. UCLA is a beautiful conclave and among the most scenic communities in Los Angeles- 20 minutes from the ocean and nearby skiing (same day). Davis campus is insane and outside awaits a 1940 movie type old town with classic modern buildings on campus. The UC schools are really amazing from many standpoints not to mention jobs. Do factor in the weather as to whether or not you will want to attend the school of your dreams. Do you like hot weather or cold, four seasons or for some more of a Four Seasons small private college. Do you like hiking fishing and the outdoors and staying inside, a large campus or small; big city or rural….etc. These see below important. I wouldn’t do well in Chicago as much as love the city. For me it’s “Sunshine on my shoulders (great song)” but look at more than the rankings and especially the fit part.Always look closely at the published admit rates and also at the number of applicants. Getting into a UC School is not a breeze unless you have almost all As and secondarily a top SAT score. There is a reason UCLA has more applications about 115,000 than any school in the country and most of the UC are close. Great schools, great values great places to spend four years and Ca employees really respect them. Use math to eliminate schools likely to eliminate you like the ivys which average only 1500 admits worldwide. Seriously what are your real chances of a school that admits 7% of the best, and don’t ever just focus on the ivys and instead always select a wider net and include top schools with a much better acceptance rate like a. Georgetown, Vanderbilt, U Purdue, Virginia etc.Like in geometry, use the angles. For example, how many kids from California are applying to U North Carolina or U Madison Wisconsin (two amazing schools) so when you do you’ll have a chance at one heck of a school by going off the normal grid. Or what North Dakota State and you just mind find yourself getting in with lower stats. I’ve never heard of a top local kid I know doing this trick but it’s a brilliant move. Top Kids from California tend to fly together and apply to all of the UC, some Ivys, maybe a few like Duke or Georgetown but rarely to UNC or Ohio State (Michigan yes)…Applying off of the grid… gets you on the grid and why kids from Alaska do very well getting into top schools so all 50 states are represented (a little known but true secret). Most of all, be that “diversity” candidate or a person the admission director is thinking really why is a kid from San Diego applying to North Dakota State and if so they must want to go here so let’s let them in. Angle off the grid for a few select college choices.Please don’t tell anytime this secret-only 500 US kids apply to Oxford/Cambridge annually so make sure you schedule their own special test (required here) at least one year out since my son couldn’t get a chance to take it 3 months out. Also the tests are insane, so do study for it for a year if interested like you would the SAT. And they do admit 18% and less from US. I’d choose either school over almost any US college but that is another secret I won’t discuss here…The very top, elite schools like Harvard, Yale and U Washington, Duke, John Hopkins etc (all great schools) are trying to gauge your interest so go their summer school and events and tours. This is one of the biggest secrets yet joining Harvard or MIT for a summer school program and doing well even if it’s used to get into Northwestern. This is a huge admissions boost so see what programs they have for high school kids or spend the summer on your own taking a few classes and you have proven to admissions directors you have what it takes to attend an elite college. It’s expensive but spend the summer at Boston as the best money you’ll likely ever spend. And also do Email the admissions departments regularly, click in there website regularly etc since they keep track. Give them some love and they may love your application, effort and it will make a difference if you are a great candidate. Had my son been a little more outgoing during his hour phone interview I helped set up with an amazing admissions director at Cornell, I believe he would have had an offer.You can develop a great repoire with admissions directors (as a parent too) occasionally and if your son is daughter is the right fit you’ll have a possible acceptance. Occasionally call, email and ask to visit with them. Life is about developing relationships and I still communicate with the retired Cornell admission director who was incredible helpful to our family and my understanding of the elite admission processes. I still regularly talk or email to the past Cornell assistant admissions director and consider her a friend. She has been a huge help over the years and a great source for information.Here is an interesting “secret” for athletes (or top performers/artists)-For any friends, family or parents of a star athlete that you know-for someone who will be a recruited, division one caliber athlete where they can play for a team like- they can “vault” into an ivy league school. Ivy’s don’t give any athletic scholarships but more importantly, they do offer amazing financial aid to anyone accepted who applies within a set financial matrix.This is listed on their financial aid website (and with calculators too in some cases. And its why at Princeton (the top ranked US News school), if your parents makes under $300,000 and in other cases under $200,000, and you apply you will get a very liberal (not a degree per se) but a generous financial aid package covering a nice part of your tuition.And it gets even better at the $140,000 a year and is very nominal or free at around $90,000-$120,000 income level. Most ivy’s have similar aid packages making a private education similar or in some cases cheaper than most public schools. For those with top level talent, the coaches have several slots per Division 1 only sports that are almost guarantees forabide by the specific college rules on how and when to contact to let them know your interest level too. To get more info too, you can google “athletics and special admissions at the ivys’ and you will enjoy reading why about 30% of all admits now go to athletes.Now that you read this you too can be one of the “crew.” Regardless, its one way to “bank” an ivy education. And as it should be. Beating Yale at Harvard takes a lot of work and coach recruiting so if you have this level of talent, why play at your state school when you can possible attend an Ivy for free. But don’t tell anyone. Its also our little secret.Take every AP class possible which will save you money on college (up to $77,000 for one year)…if you pass your AP classes with 4 and 5 (or 3s on occasion) this can also help you graduate up to a year early or give you the freedom to double major which is also very smart and distinctive. Typically most Universities will accept a 4 or 5 on the AP test for credit and some a 3 but it varies widely and most students get some but not all credit for their AP classes. And for ones they don’t do be sure to take the same class again and then nail it in college for a so called “Mickey” (as in Mouse) class or an easy A.And it’s a great grade boost for most colleges too. Here is another secret…the UC schools as per several admissions directors have told me they gauge closely having 9 or more AP classes as a major admit factor. It shows them that you took advantage of all that school had to offer by challenging yourself academically .One kid at spring break told me that his AP classes were harder than his computer science classes in colleges and really helped prepare him too. most top schools including the private schools look very closely and ask or calculate this key admission factor. It’s incredible how important this overlooked item is in your acceptance process…My suggestion, as tough as these classes are in high school, is to try within reason to take every AP class that you can handle like a Vegas Buffet. Even if you get a “B” or a 3 on some of the AP test, you’ll probably be able to ace each class again as well as your regular classes at college due to the rigor you had and that is much more important than getting As in high school.The goal of college really should be to focus on getting into grad school or getting great grades for a job since you will a need a minimum of a 3.0 GPA for virtually every Fortune 500 company later (many want a 3.7 GPA so put in the hard work when you. Party a little now and party a lot more in the future.Hard work now will likely help you succeed later in college and beyond so use AP classes, not to game the system, but to learn everything you can. And if you don’t get a 4 or 5 on the Ap test take AP calculus once agoan in college and it should be an A if you work hard again. Just do the math right? I like to say AP classes show your Ap-titude.Here are a few secrets for great extracurrulars? College love leaders who start a few popular clubs and serve as president; It never hurts being student body president either. Put in 400 hours over 3 summers of volunteering at a well known charity and that is a huge positive in your application and hours do count. College love any type of home run activities especially extracurriculars such as speech and debate (you can’t debate that), Academic Decatahlon and Science Bowl, plus any national competition like Siemens or Intel competitions. First, speech and debate for the top participants in any state will likely land you a half or full ride and even better special admission at a great school that has this team. My friend at USC got in as one of the top debaters in Illinois with a half ride and with very low GPA too. We couldn’t believe it and debated the merits therein but that is another story. The best activity (a true secret) to help prepare you for college is Academic Decathalon and it has 11 subjects that will actually help you decide what to major in or a major advantage. My son is going to get his PhD in economics when he graduates from Davis due to him loving economics here and winning a silver at states in it. The kids spend about 3 hours a day and when they go to college almost all of them destroy the curve because it’s so easy in comparison and taking a multiple choice is quite easy for them. We know one kid who has straight As in computer science at number one 1 ranked Berkeley and he said academic Decathalon was much tougher than any class at Berkeley. Another had a 3.9/4.9 in high school and now has 3.85 in computer science and econ at ecom and says college is pretty easy in comparison. They also do interview and speech so the kids become expert interviewers for college and grad school and make lifelong friends and the team has spots for A B and C students. Any kid should strongly consider taking this incredible extracurricular activity and the likelihood of it helping you get top grades and a PhD after college is always positive. Two of my kids did it and since both are almost done, don’t tell anyone but it’s our little (I mean big) secret. Also colleges love it too since it shows you love learning for learning sake and the kids do usually get into better schools than many of their peers with a slight bump for college admissions from what I have seen. Yes doing so is clearly ….“Academic.”A Summer school secret-If your first choice is a school that happens have a special “summer program for high school students” and run in conjunction with the University…then that program could be your “lottery admit ticket” since: A) it shows you are very interested in attending that college (and likely accept if they offer) B) you can talk about it in your essay with personal insights others don’t and C) it shows interest and likely acceptance of an offer. My son’s best friend did this program at Emory (it’s incredible), and sure enough he applied for Early Decision and bingo he hit the lottery with a 4.3 GPA and a 1500 SAT and qualify extracurriculars (into a top 22 ranked school). Then for a “double double,” his family hit the jackpot twice (or paid the slot machine twice depending upon how you look at) when his younger brother did the same thing and is now a legacy and he got in this year. Emory knew he too was dying to go their school (and it was a layup for them by admitting him) since his brother clearly loved it and had him apply. They got two top students guaranteed and kept it all in the family. I also noticed that Princeton loves our kids High School and is the only Ivy League school to regularly offer the public high school an annual admit. Is it by chance… no chance lol is my belief. They know the too kids do well.Both factors are secrets in helping you to heavily increase your odds and especially if a sibling is attending, and don’t forget to also apply to the same school and mention this fact. Why? Now the school knows you’ll most likely accept if you apply since your brother or sister loves it so much they told you to apply. Getting admits to accept their offer of admissions will in fact improve the schools rankings so this factor tells them they have a great shot at getting you… you are a “layup” for them so use this strategy to obtain tough admits. Call the school and find out about the summer school to. For elite colleges aces high school summer school works or even getting two As at Harvard or UCLA is a major green flag (meaning this kid can handle the heat. But if you aren’t brilliant it could also backfire if you get a C so drop any such class I’d you can. Getting As at any major university especially an Ivy or MIT may not be a slam dunk but it close to a layup for admissions if you have good enough scores to get into the main pile. Think about this logically… applicant A is perfect and is applicant B but applicant B took 2 classes at Harvard summer school and got all As. Who ya gonna call…Ghostbusters. No kid B. And taking classes at any elite college will help you get in (or get a possible scholarship if exceptional in every way) into many more colleges and it’s a game changer but with major risks if you do poorly…the so called double edged sword. But if an incredible student in one area put it off the glass softly for a winning basket.Early Decision (ED). Like any other decision in life, this could be your equivalent of the educational lottery (in a good way. Making an early decision for early decision will substantially increase your odds of acceptance, but nevertheless, it’s a case of buyer beware since it’s almost always binding so only do ED if you love the school and do it early. I would strongly advise someone who would love to get into a top ivy to do this and only pick your first choice (not your best chance because you’ll have to live with-and love your choice). It is highly underutilized by top public schools (and I don’t understand why) but it’s always encouraged at private high schools for a smart reason-demonstrated interest. And if your rejected/deferred, usually (not always) you’ll still get a second chance/look in the regular admit pool so you get a double double (ok and a cheesy comment or too right)? Similarly, I would also suggest taking “Early Action (EA) whenever possible at a larger range of schools as permitted… but -again please do read the fine print listed for any school for both because there are a lot of predetermined outcomes hinging on each and in some cases legal binding enrollment (hint your stuck going here unless you can prove financial aid didn’t meet your full need). Spend a lot of time studying and reading up on both and really understand the nuances. I would call severs of the school admission officers (or email them) for their own details. But please don’t tell anyone at the public schools since so few students these days that I have seen including my own bothered to take advantage of this major admissions advantage. It’s also important to usually apply earlier than their regular deadline as a general suggestion.Timing wise, I believe it’s always much better to try to finish some of your applications (or if a self starter) all of them over the summer. Doesn’t it make sense to be finished when everyone else stresses last minute near December and during school which is a major student stressor. Be relaxed, and grab a Starbucks or Net flix while your friends are stressing out big time. Why would anyone do that to themselves (hint most do) when you can likely give yourself a small boost by trying to be the top candidate to apply and on day one. To me anyways, it does show your interest in their school to put them first or early. A family friend whom I advised this year had a possible shot at Princeton as a top all A diversity student from a school they love offering similar diversity students annually. However he waited until the last moment, got behind and he couldn’t apply. This was a major mistake but a life learning moment.. “Showing up” is the number one key to success. Apply yourself and apply early as another big secret. It will open you up to adding many more schools as friends apply and you say you know what I would love to attend Georgetown so you simply crank out another Georgetown app… Soon enough, you are heading off to Washington DC for one great school because you had the time to apply. Always apply and also apply yourself.Don’t ever stress out over college (the best secret of all), because community college is the best option for many kids and if you ace it, you can often times go anywhere in the country. You’ll save money and sure it’s not like a 4 year college but my son did it and loved it and the kids are exceptional here too.For the right kids, usually hard working ones without a super high GPA or SAT score or even without a ego of feeling they need a four year school, community college is a truly a brilliant way to get into many top colleges (and sometimes with scholarships) with solid grades, but remember you do lose out two years of college life “for better or worse.”My oldest got into electrical engineering this way at UC Santa Cruz with a 3.3 GPA, but he also get rejected from UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley and that major is brutal for kids (another secret-watch out for that and computer science in college unless you are incredible at these subjects.Most of all, enjoy the process itself, and it ends up correct in most situations. The colleges know what they are doing; sadly most students do not because they don’t know how the game worksI loved the question and good luck to you. In the end, going to college was found recently in a study to pay 85% more than a high school degree so the fact your attending is worth every penny. Best of luck to you

Whenever you’re at the counselor’s office, thinking about the future, or just thinking what professions you could get into, you always have one dream job. Some people want to be actors, others want to be singers, and we all know that one guy who wants to be a President. Here is compiled a good month worth of research and comparison between several fields of work to determine which industries are the hardest to get into and be successful in.Thanks to an article by Yogin Patel on Feb 22, 2014, showing the top 10 hardest industries to enter.10. PornographyOkay, so this might not be the most politically correct topic to approach in the article but pornography is truly an odd, close knit industry where success is sold by the media, but almost never guaranteed. It is common belief that the porn industry generates tens of billions of dollars per year, but that assumption is false. According to Forbes, pornography only generates an approximate billion dollars per year. With the general population thinking that there are fountains of cash to be made in porn, more and more people fly out to California (the porn mecca) in hopes of becoming famed “pornstars”. The only thing that this does is give porn companies an ever increasing amount of willing actors which will allow them to lower pay and create a ridiculous turnover rate, which in my opinion, is only second to the fast food and film industry turnover rates (fast foods have a 100% turnover rate). On top of that, pornography is a huge illusion, in all of its aspects. Porn is ruled by drugs, lies, and money. Unless you plan on buying an entire porn agency or creating one from the ground up, don’t get involved in it. It’s a waste of time, and the little money you might make will evaporate quicker than a pool of water under the Arizona sun.9. The Medical FieldWith so many aspiring doctors, it’s only natural to think that the medical field is highly competitive. Although I believe that any highly intellectual person with an affinity for science can become a doctor, more and more people are deciding to go into the medical field for the simple fact that doctors make a lot of money. First of all, doctors make money, but not the kind of money that most people think of! With money as a motivation, nothing will work out! Becoming a successful neurosurgeon, or heart surgeon, or any type of “cashcrop doctor” demands passion and an amazing amount of skill, not to mention, a likeable personality. You can’t be a half assed surgeon. There’s a joke that goes: What do you call a student who graduated from Med school with all D’s? A doctor. I beg to differ. I would call that a potential killer. The medical field leaves almost no room for error, because people’s lives are at risk. In fact, any doctor who messes up an operation or prescribes the wrong type of medicine can see his/her license revoked. In some cases, the offender might see him/herself unable to ever practice again. Don’t become a doctor unless you truly have a passion for it! It’s one of the hardest industries to get into! Although, if you want to be a doctor, I am in no way discouraging you, just letting you know that the profession isn’t suited for everyone.8. JournalismWe all know it’s hard to become rich off of written material! Journalism is the easiest way to make money off writing but the toughest job to keep. As opposed to published authors, journalists have monthly and weekly deadlines, which could be killer if they can’t handle stress well. A lot of people don’t handle stress well. A lot of people procrastinate. Therefore, not a lot of people are successful journalists. Writing is truly a passion, but sometimes, profession and passion are not compatible. On top of this, there are millions of journalists who want to be the ones to uncover the next Watergate scandal, making competition overwhelming.7. The Music IndustryChance. That’s how the music industry is right now. For the past 5 to 10 years, the music industry has been a lottery ticket. We all know that one singer who can’t really sing and has terrible subject matter, and that one band that is absolutely amazing, but has no radio airplay for some reason. Album sales are dropping; record labels are short on money, so obviously, breaking through in the industry has become an odd feat. With the advent of illegal downloading, record labels only sign artists that will provide residual income. This means that an artist wishing to become successful must most likely create an impressive grassroots following, promote himself, tour excessively, and then, maybe, major labels will look at him. Basically, they need to be a successful artist before becoming a successful artist (getting major radio airplay and playing immense venues). The ironic thing is, many artists who, nowadays, achieve independent success wish to remain independent. This puts the record labels in an awkward situation. Regardless, achieving musical success in an industry run by sharks is a difficult task.6. SportsThis one is a no brainer! Even though there are thousands of professional athletes, it is extremely difficult to be a truly successful athlete because of a couple of factors. First of all, there is stress. As a professional athlete, you are constantly stressed because of contracts, losses, angry fans, etc… Second of all, there is a high injury risk once you enter the realm of professional sports. We all know that one extremely talented rookie pro who destroyed his/her body just short of becoming a new sensation. Thirdly, there is an immense amount of work and preparation involved in being a world renowned professional athlete especially once you age because you have to be able to deal with the rising competition with young rookies. In my opinion, if you’re not being scouted as of today, then you have a better chance of being a massage therapist for professional athletes. On top of that, massage therapists for athletes make a LOT of money. We might write an article about that if anybody is interested (contact us)!!5. The InternetWho hasn’t dreamt of having a viral website that makes BILLIONS of dollars annually? I have. The truth is, the internet is a competitive place, where thousands of websites prey on each other like animals in the jungle. On top of that, you have hackers who destroy websites for mere fun, viruses that infect your computer, and billions of hours of potential distractions. The internet is the biggest jungle man knows. Making a successful blog or website is very time consuming, costs a little bit of money, and will give you headaches. First, you need to find a website that does not have millions of competitors. Second, you need to learn how to actually MAKE a website. Third, you need to put content on your site. Finally, you need to market. The greatest website in the world can’t be the greatest if it has no traction. This alone makes the internet a competitive new industry.4. The Patenting and Creative IndustryThis isn’t technically an industry but we all know someone who claims to be an inventor… And we all know Leonardo Da Vinci. Where is the line between a successful inventor and a tinkerer? An inventor invents products that are at the same time, useful, well designed, beautiful, and popular. A tinkerer is the type of person that invents something that could be useful, but is so awkward in its design that anyone except its maker would want to use it. The most remarkable example of a 21st century inventor is Steve Jobs. He is the Da Vinci of our times. Steve Jobs has invented products that do simply AMAZING things that look simple, beautiful, and are user friendly. Take a look at the touch screen. Every smartphone has a touchscreen nowadays, but Steve Jobs was the first to introduce the touchscreen to the world. Even before the Iphone, Apple experimented with touchscreen technology. Dig into old crates and you might find an old ipod nano. The first model. Those had primitive touchscreens called tactile regions. It is literally impossible to find a tech company that has not used a single one of Jobs’ inventions. That’s why it is hard to become an inventor. You’ll eventually be compared to Steve Jobs if you’re even remotely successful. That’s tough.3. The Movie IndustryThe movie industry is notorious for being difficult to thrive in, not only for actors, but also for writers, directors, and the numerous filmography experts involved in the making of a film. Similarly to music, the movie industry is struggling to keep up with illegal downloads of films. This combined with the fact that, people just don’t go to the movies as much as they used to, makes the movie industry a good pick for number 3. The competition in the film industry is through the roof. The turnover rate for actors who want to make it to Hollywood is almost infinity. Luckily for actors, people enjoy seeing familiar faces on screen. Chances are, if you have a good debut movie, you’ll find more opportunities. The real challenge is actually finding a debut movie to star in. It doesn’t matter if you’re a good actor or not because the governor’s cousin’s son wants to act, and if he gets the role, then he’ll make sure the governor speaks to his good friends who work at a huge firm that will financially back the movie. These are the kinds of deals that go on in the mainstream movie industry. How do you think Nicholas Cage began acting in the first place? Granted, he has improved from his early movies, but in his debut, he had absolutely no skill! To make it in the movie industry, you have to be lucky, know a couple people, and CONSTANTLY be trying out for roles. It takes a lot of patience and work.2. The Art WorldArt is so difficult to thrive in because what one person in your art class might consider “pretty” or “beautiful” can be “repulsive” or “cliché” to an art critic. The art world is much closed and geographically organized. Even with the internet, artists rely on small circles of connections to get shows into galleries, or sell a piece. Reputation is also extremely important in art. You need to build a solid reputation, have an impeccable portfolio of artwork that stays relevant to your style, and please the art world. Without a reputation, you are nothing. Another obstacle to success in the art world is the fact that you might not actually be ALIVE when your paintings become sensational. This stems from many painters being ahead of their time, in terms of style and goal. An example of this is Basquiat. Jean Michel Basquiat was a fairly successful artist in the 80’s, who worked with Andy Warhol and did a number of art shows throughout the world. Basquiat was either loved or hated in the art world. When he died of a heroin overdose in 1988, the art world called him the pioneer of primitivism, and later, hailed him as the Father of Graffiti and neo-expressionism. Now, a Basquiat sells for $29 000 000. Yes, that’s 29 million dollars. And Basquiat never touched 1 million dollars during his time on earth. All in all, success in art is ephemeral at best, and in the worst case, invisible (until you die).1. FashionHow is fashion harder to be successful in than art? Fashion is in the same category as art but the main difference between the two is that the dominant figures in haute couture have been the same for hundreds of years. With art, people die, artists change, and the art world slowly accepts new “masters” of the trade. With fashion, this does not happen. The families who founded the dominant maisons de couture have kept the name, status, and company even beyond their legacy. In this way, one name can be synonymous with “fashionable” for years to come. If you look at recent successful haute couture brands, there are none. Streetwear has seen the rise of brands like Supreme and Diamond in the last 5 years, but in haute couture, the main players have been the same for a long, long time. Hermes was established in 1837, Burberry was established in 1856, Louis Vuitton was established in 1854, Chanel was established in 1909, and Gucci in 1921. Most of these brands have been around for 100+ years, and have been extremely successful throughout. Good luck dethroning them.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~HOWEVER, here is a 2009 opinion from College Times:ASTRONAUTWhat they do: Astronauts are highly trained personnel that command, pilot or operate a spacecraft to uncover the universe. Military jet test piloting and engineering training are cited as prerequisites for selection as an astronaut at NASA. NASA astronauts go through a 20-month training process that includes high performance jet training and extra-vehicular training (buoyancy and weightlessness training) to prepare them for jet-setting to the “great beyond.”Why the job is hard to come by: Looks like most people will not be heading to the moon anytime soon as chances of becoming an astronaut: 12,100,000 to 1. NASA hires a fleet of about a dozen astronauts each year. Compare that figure to the number of management positions that open up annually—around 150,000—and you can get a sense of how competitive this field is. Plus, potential NASA candidates don’t even have a chance at becoming a team member until they have years of experience under their belt…The average age of a candidate is 36 years old.ASTRONOMERWhat they do: Afraid of flying but still love gazing at stars and learning about infinity and beyond? Well astronomy might be for you. Astronomers are scientists who study celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies. These researchers observe, measure, interpret and develop theories to explain extraterrestrial activity using intricate mathematics. Similar to astronauts, this profession requires extensive study. Most astronomers have obtained a PhD in physics or astronomy and are employed by the federal government, universities or scientific research firms.Why the job is hard to come by: According to the Occupational Supply and Demand chart supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor, there are only 50 openings a year in this field—and only 1,280 practicing astronomers documented. With the combination of the small number of openings per year and the brainpower needed for this profession, you can see why astronomers top the list of hardest jobs to get.MODELWhat they do: On the opposite spectrum of brainpower are models. Contrary to astronomers who utilize their brainpower, these buxom professionals are defined by their outer beauty. Models showcase apparel and garments to prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, and retail outlets, as well as for advertising and artistic expression.Why the job is hard to come by: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 1,660 individuals are professional models and only 80 high-profile careers in this field open up a year. Models are literally and figuratively “starving artists” as there is an extremely small pool of people that hit the bit time in modeling.PROFESSIONAL ATHLETEWhat they do: Similar to models, professional athletes rely on their body as a vessel for success. Professional athletes are active in the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS—and provide entertainment for millions of viewers by dueling teams and exhibiting physical aptitude. Most professional athletes have dedicated their lives to fine-tuning their athletic skills.Why this job is hard to come by: Keep your day job. The chances of becoming a professional athlete is about 24,550 to 1—so you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning, marrying a millionaire or writing a New York Times bestseller. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 9,380 professional athletes you have a .00565% chance of becoming a professional athlete.PROFESSIONAL REFEREEWhat they do: For as long as professional sports are played there will be a need for referees and umpires. Professional referees enforce rigid rules and regulations during a professional sports match.Why this job is hard to come by: Want to become a professional referee? Chances of making this profession a career is even more unlikely than becoming a professional athlete. The recruitment process for this position is extremely grueling as candidates have to go through introspective psychological tests. Plus there are only 1,980 people are employed in this field—so opportunities in this field are few and far between.PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD COOKWhat they do: Private household cooks plan menus and prepare meals in private homes based on the recipes or tastes of their employer—who are often high-society pro sports figures, models and entertainers. Professional cooks often have a specialty such as cooking for families or health-conscious individuals and have a seasoned background in the culinary industry.Why the job is hard to come by: Though finding a career as a chef in a restaurant may be fairly easy to come by, this is not the case for private cooks. The Occupational Supply and Demand System forecasts only 180 openings from 2006-2016 in this profession and there are currently only 980 cooks dicin’ up their culinary specialties in private homes.MATHEMATICAL TECHNICIANWhat they do: If you are a number-crunching brainiac, then this career is for you. This career forces individuals to reduce raw data into meaningful information by applying standardized mathematical formulas, principles and methodology to problems in engineering and physical sciences. AKA—Mathematical Technicians translate numbers into tables, graphs and correlate finding to daily life.Why the job is hard to come by: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are only 1,100 mathematical technicians in America, and only 40 openings for this position in the next few years. With the small window of opportunity, plus the necessity for idiot savant-like intelligence, this job tops the list of hardest jobs to come by.PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESWhat they do: The President of the United States is arguably the most important and high-profile job in the United States. The President serves as the head of state and government of the nation. This elected official leads the executive branch of the federal government and serves as the face of the U.S. in foreign affairs.Why this job is competitive: Despite having a skeleton-free closet, an unfettered sense of confidence and pools of adoring supporters, there are age and residency requirements for becoming the president of the United States—which eliminates a lot of potential candidates for the position. Presidential candidates must be a natural-born U.S. Citizen, over 35 years old and must be in 14 years to be president. Plus: experience is a must with this position as most Presidential candidates have a rich history in the political sphere as lawyers, senators and activists. BUT, look at the current (2019) US political climate for an entirely different perspective.PROSTHODONTISTWhat they do: Take great care of your teeth, because if you lose them you will need a Prosthodontist… and you might have trouble finding one. One of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Prosthodontists make dentures, crowns and bridges. This profession is extremely specialized—as there are only 370 people who specialize in this type of implant, esthetic and reconstructive dentistry.Why the job is hard to come by: The combination of educational requirements and the supply of people in Prosthodontics makes this position extremely rare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are only 30 openings expected between 2006 and 2016, making this the hardest profession to get into on the list. In addition, becoming a Prosthodontist requires an additional three years of postgraduate specialty training after obtaining a Doctor of Dental Surgery or DMD Doctor of Dental Medicine degree… That’s 23 years of schooling!GEOGRAPHERWhat they do: A Geographer is a scientist whose area of study is geography, the study of earth’s physical environment and human habitat. Geographers identify, analyze and interpret the distribution and arrangement of features of the earth’s surface, while also studying climate and ecological patterns of certain areas. Geographers often specialize in cartography (map making), climatology and ecology—all jobs that are rare to come by.Why these jobs are hard to come by: Similar to Astronomers and Mathematical Technicians, this profession requires extensive study and natural brainpower. In addition to its inherent qualifications, there are only 40 openings annually for this profession (Occupational Supply and Demand System). Plus, the pool of practicing geographers is extremely small too: at only 1,100 people.FOREST FIRE INSPECTORWhat they do: These professionals enforce fire regulations and inspect for forest-fire hazards. They also report forest fires and weather conditions.Why these jobs are hard to come by: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there is only a projected need of 38 Forest Fire Specialist between (2006 and 2016). Plus, individuals in this field are almost solely employed by the government, so there is a rigorous screening and selection process for this career. With only 1,800 people in this profession to-date, you can see why Forest Fire Inspectors make the list of hardest jobs to land.* The list was compiled by data-crunching the projected annual average job openings from 2006 through 2016, as estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov), the number of employed persons in the field and the percentage of growth rate.This article was contributed by Rasmussen College. Find this article and similar articles here.