<p>What does applying back door too a college mean?</p>
<p>I’ve never heard this term before, but what first came to mind was applying to a school where one has an in. Like a parent working there or something.</p>
<p>I think it usually means getting into a selective college by applying to an easy to get into program that actually physically puts you on the campus of the selective college. You are sort of at the selective college, but you got in through the back door. You aren’t on the official list of people who were accepted, as those who came in through the front door are. However you are in a position to take advantage of the school and perhaps transition yourself into an official student. Sometimes a school has a nearby or on site community college or night school that will allow this back door admission process. Another thing - if you got in through the back door, other students who see you there can’t immediately tell that you are not an official student.</p>
<p>someone told me it refers to applying to a spring semester instead of fall. </p>
<p>(not sure if you can do this without college credits)</p>
<p>I guess it could be:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Applying to an easier program in the hopes of getting accepted to the university itself and then applying to the one you’re actually interested in. I guess an example would be someone who applies to Penn’s CAS and then tries to transfer internally to Wharton.</p></li>
<li><p>Using parents or connections.</p></li>
</ol>