Picture this: your high school rival has just been accepted into the school of their dreams. Little does this school know that you have some dirt on said rival, which could result in a swift revocation of admission. Do you contact the school, or do you let sleeping dogs lie?

This situation is actually quite common. Admissions officers are certainly used to it. Every year, these overworked professionals receive a handful of letters and communications detailing the supposed evils of a student they made the mistake of admitting from a scorned peer, or worse, the scorned parent of the scorned peer. Sometimes the situation is more ambiguous, such as the case of a bully’s victim getting in touch with their bully’s future school to set the record straight. We at Ivy Coach get it. Evil people often go far in the world, and it’s not fair. But if you want our advice, don’t get involved. The risks outweigh the satisfaction.

Sabotaging Your Peer’s Acceptance Reflects More on You Than on Them!

Who wants to admit the student who is so petty that they went out of their way to sabotage someone else’s chances? Highly selective schools must split hair between incredibly qualified applicants with no suspect behavior, so why would they take the chance on you? We’re not saying your ploy won’t be successful. It’s easy to probe into an applicant’s digital footprint in this brave new digital age. Your scornful letter might just give a college the push it needs to sweep your enemy’s internet history and find some nasty things. They might even fulfill your wishes and rescind your enemy’s admission. But if you think there won’t be consequences for you, too, you’re gravely mistaken.

Remember, your high school is bound to find out about your shady move and take disciplinary action. If you have an acceptance letter of your own under your belt, an infraction could have you following in your enemy’s shoes with a notice that your admission has been rescinded. And wouldn’t that be ironic — just like rain on your wedding day (do kids these days still get that reference?). And if your sabotage attempt was informed by utter malice — and empty allegations against an innocent victim — you’ve suddenly become the laughingstock of your school district. Yikes! So, before you decide to take such a drastic step, think about the potential risks and consequences. Is it really worth it?

A Word to Parents: Don’t Stoop to the Level of Teenagers

Parents who engage in such behavior should be ashamed of themselves. Who are you to try to crush the dreams of your child’s classmates to satisfy your child’s whims? It’s behavior unbecoming of a parent of a college-bound student. If you want to give your child’s rival something to be mad about, optimize your child’s odds of admission to an elite school that puts their rival’s future campus to shame. We at Ivy Coach must say that most of our package clients are not driven by contempt — they usually want the best for their academically ambitious peers. But whatever floats your boat. Let your child’s success be the best revenge on all the naysayers.

Ivy Coach’s Recommendation: Take the High Road

If your allegations against a classmate are that bad, turn to your high school’s administration or, if criminal activity is involved, the police. Tattling to your rival’s future college is just a way to enact revenge, not justice. 

In a world where ’Cancel Culture’ is prevalent, it’s important to remember that highly selective universities are not like Twitter mobs. Instead of seeking revenge, focus on your own path and let the universe take care of the rest. As Beyoncé wisely said, “Always stay gracious, the best revenge is your paper.” We couldn’t agree more! If you’re interested in taking the high road, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.