Post by Rosemarie Hamm, PMP

Some may call this gaming the system or misrepresenting oneself as a “duly verified” member of said college/university’s student body. An alternative take on this using a backdoor means to gain acceptance to one’s dream school. In a typical high school’s junior/senior’s life, this event can be seen as one of the best days of your life up to that point. What if you don’t get in despite the fact that you have an impressive resume? The disappointment from a rejection can seem soul-crushing for a 17-year old in the moment and make one feel like everything you’ve worked for up to that point was for naught. So, what to do? Take the time to grieve the temporary setback for as long you reasonably need, move on, and devise a Plan B to stay goal focused. Necessity is the mother of invention, or in this case, the laser-focus desire to attend the place where you will spend the next four (hopefully) years earning your degree, and immersing yourself in the school’s environment, and experiencing life as a member of the student body. As a hiring manager, I will not care if you enrolled as a traditional student or gained entry via an alternate means. Your degree will still state that you graduated from “X” University and not distinguish the path you took to gain it, or in most cases, note the campus you attended (flagship or satellite). Unconventional? Sure. But sanctioned and more importantly, legal. And I will applaud you for your perseverance and creativity in having removed a temporary blocker and reaching your ultimate goal. A not insignificant indicator on two important soft skills that you will need as a working professional for the rest of your career.