So I work with a private admissions counselor, and she recently told me that when she used to be an AO, she sometimes searched up applicants’ houses to gauge things like socioeconomic status.
Is this common for AOs to do at top elite colleges like the ivy league? Do they even have the time to do this, even for a couple of students?
Google Street View would be quick. I use it when my kids or relatives have moved to new places and I want to see what the area looks like.
I don’t think admissions officers typically have the time/energy/inclination to do this unless perhaps something looks way off (ex. an applicant has an essay about growing up in poverty but has an address in an exclusive area).
Financial aid officers may do it if something seems fishy on the FAFSA or CSS profile. They could then flag that person for verification.
Hmm. Doesn’t sound good. Poor neighborhood, rich neighborhood. Doesn’t really tell what’s in the kids mind or heart.
Live in different parts of the country, meet lots of different types, and you’ll learn this isnt realistic. OP seems to be a rising senior. I suspect this is about presenting honestly, not some new insider kerfuffle for a game of ‘whisper down the lane.’
I don’t see what difference it would make unless they were using it to confirm something in the application like the value of the primary residence or information about additional property. If everything in the app is accurate, what is searching for the family home on Google maps going to tell them about socioeconomic status that the income and asset information on the app won’t?
Zillow would give approximate financials on a house/neighborhood, however I agree that most admissions officers don’t likely have time to do this - or to check the social media posting of applicants - unless something seems off in an application that otherwise looks strong.