The latest admission craze for Harvard: manual labor

A new approach to college admissions has emerged, with some parents willing to pay up to $40,000 per semester for their children to engage in tasks like washing dishes and cleaning toilets at Mountain School, a semester program located in Vermont. This program attracts talented students from across the United States and has become a stepping stone for those aspiring to gain admission to elite universities like Harvard, Brown, and Dartmouth.

## Why it matters The increasing competition for spots at prestigious universities has led parents to seek unconventional methods to enhance their children's applications. In an environment where academic grades alone are often insufficient, unique experiences like those offered by Mountain School can help differentiate candidates in the eyes of admissions committees.

## What we know Mountain School provides a program that combines manual labor with learning, where students participate in activities such as classroom cleaning and farm care. This approach not only aims to teach practical skills but also to provide a unique narrative that students can present in their college applications.

## What remains unclear It is still unconfirmed whether this trend of paying for manual labor experiences will become a standard in the college admissions process. Furthermore, it is unclear how universities will respond to these new strategies employed by parents to highlight their children.