Anonymous wrote:https://www.propublica.org/article/college-high-school-research-peer-review-publications

All part of the performative dance we do here. The college admissions officers need to stop touting the stat of how many of their admits had publications up to their bosses and trustees.

Else this stupidity continues.

The same thing has happened with bogus non-profits and startups that high schoolers are supposedly creating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case Western just early-admitted 23 students who were clients of one of the pay-for-play research companies. Stanford accepted 11. Most are from China. Agreed that some AOs definitely do not see through this . . .

They choose not to see through this. The nonprofit, business, and peer-reviewed byline tell universities that you have $$$ (themselves or their government sponsor) without having to consult with the Financial Aid office. So you can maintain need-blind admissions while being "impressed" with this "achievement".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some AOs can see through this BS, but unfortunately some can’t. That’s the problem when colleges consider non-academic factors. “Peer-reviewed” publications, starting your own business, starting a charity, etc.

The AOs at the most coveted and elite schools for which people engage in this nonsense universally can see through the bullshit. I promise you.

I hope so but apparently no all AOs see through that. Someone brought up students from China who did fake research. International schools are a huge cottage industry there. Rich families don’t want their kids to go through the grueling Gaokao (standardized college entrance exam) to get into domestic colleges. They send their kids to international schools like BASIS and take the American curriculum. BTW, BASIS intl schools in China are paying teachers over $100k (USD!) per year, in a country where the average income is just over $10k. Ridiculous. And then there’s the “counseling” system to tailor their college apps to fit the taste of American college AOs. And the real sad part is that these American AOs love them! They pay full tuition and don’t apply for scholarship or financial aid. All cash. Not just the Ivys. A lot of state schools love them too. It’s all about $$$.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some AOs can see through this BS, but unfortunately some can’t. That’s the problem when colleges consider non-academic factors. “Peer-reviewed” publications, starting your own business, starting a charity, etc.

The AOs at the most coveted and elite schools for which people engage in this nonsense universally can see through the bullshit. I promise you.

I hope so but apparently no all AOs see through that. Someone brought up students from China who did fake research. International schools are a huge cottage industry there. Rich families don’t want their kids to go through the grueling Gaokao (standardized college entrance exam) to get into domestic colleges. They send their kids to international schools like BASIS and take the American curriculum. BTW, BASIS intl schools in China are paying teachers over $100k (USD!) per year, in a country where the average income is just over $10k. Ridiculous. And then there’s the “counseling” system to tailor their college apps to fit the taste of American college AOs. And the real sad part is that these American AOs love them! They pay full tuition and don’t apply for scholarship or financial aid. All cash. Not just the Ivys. A lot of state schools love them too. It’s all about $$$.

Anonymous wrote:This is only going to get worse in a post test-optional world.

And I say that because I am the problem. I am wealthy and I will do whatever it takes to advantage my children. Peer review publication, dubious nonprofit, private sports coaching… whatever angle I can find, I will pour money into exploiting. Cut off one snake head and I’ll find another.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember writing a really extensive research paper as a kid and my mom saying — it’s so good, if we were Kennedy’s, we’d pay to have it published. (I guess the Kennedy’s did that with some book written by Jack?). So yeah it’s always been a game the rich have played, but I agree it’s gross.

But in JFK’s days admissions were so much easier. I read somewhere that in 1947, Harvard accepted 1000 students out of 1200 applicants. Don’t quote me on that. I read it quite a while ago. I also read that as late as 1990, UPenn’s acceptance rate was 41%. Even if the numbers are not quite right, the Ivys of decades ago were not nearly as selective as today’s 3rd or 4th tier colleges.

Anonymous wrote:We’re seeing this at our school - a few kids have parents who work at hospitals with med schools affiliated. They do research and get co-author. Know Harvard, Penn, and Dartmouth admits who did this.

Anonymous wrote:I remember writing a really extensive research paper as a kid and my mom saying — it’s so good, if we were Kennedy’s, we’d pay to have it published. (I guess the Kennedy’s did that with some book written by Jack?). So yeah it’s always been a game the rich have played, but I agree it’s gross.

Anonymous wrote:

“Nowadays, having a publication is kind of a given” for college applicants, she said. “If you don’t have one, you’re going to have to make it up in some other aspect of your application.”

This is complete garbage.

People, just because something is in writing doesn't make it true. Don't fall for this stuff. Safe to say that most kids getting accepted to college aren't published. Don't believe the hype.

Anonymous wrote:It's just the latest ploy by companies preying on the fear of parents and separating them from their money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some AOs can see through this BS, but unfortunately some can’t. That’s the problem when colleges consider non-academic factors. “Peer-reviewed” publications, starting your own business, starting a charity, etc.

The AOs at the most coveted and elite schools for which people engage in this nonsense universally can see through the bullshit. I promise you.

Anonymous wrote:

This is complete garbage.

People, just because something is in writing doesn't make it true. Don't fall for this stuff. Safe to say that most kids getting accepted to college aren't published. Don't believe the hype.