At this time of year, all the local colleges are settling in to contemplate who is in and who is out. Kids with stars in their eyes are hoping to go to the school of their choice so they can go on to lucrative careers as doctors, lawyers, and Internet entrepreneurs. An entrance to Harvard might lead to Facebook-esque fame.

So no wonder the kids are going all out. Really all out. Recently, Linda Wertheimer at the Globe described some future college students who pursue universities as if they were potential lovers. Here's a list of what a few students sent:

--A Scrabble project (this student was accepted)
--A duct-tape flower (this student should apply to the Department of Homeland Security)
--A chocolate Veritas shield (this student should go to culinary school already)
--Naked pictures of themselves (were they applying for the Naked Quad Run?)
--Taxidermy (is that even legal?)

Maybe it's the reality-television culture, where winning is all that matters; therefore, it is crucial to stand out. The point of a reality-show audition is to stick in the mind of a casting director. Merit is nice, but it's not essential.

Have you sent in anything crazy to a college? And did you get in?

Image of a stuffed bear from Wikipedia.