<p>"(AP) -- Marilee Jones, a prominent crusader against the pressure on students to build their resumes for elite colleges, resigned Thursday as dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after acknowledging she had misrepresented her own academic credentials.</p>
<p>Jones has been a popular speaker on the college admissions circuit, where she urged parents not to press their kids too hard, and told students there are more important things than getting into the most prestigious colleges. She rewrote MIT's application, trying to get students to reveal more about their personalities and passions, and de-emphasizing lists of their accomplishments.</p>
<p>But Jones, dean since 1997, issued a statement saying she had misrepresented her credentials when she first came to work at MIT 28 years ago and "did not have the courage to correct my resume when I applied for my current job or at any time since...."</p>
At the recent CPW, EVERY parent was saying "Marilee does not make a mistake!"
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<p>Well, given that only parents of accepted students would have been at CPW, that's not surprising in the least.</p>
<p>I was really hoping the inevitable collapse of the college admissions process would wait until I had graduated, but apparently the ball has already begun to roll.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to compare the stats of waitlist admissions to regular admits (if enough students come off the waitlist to make the numbers statistically valuable, of course.) I'll reserve any judgment about Marilee Jones' true effects on the process until after that point.</p>
<p>I'm not sad. I never liked her double speak. ("We want all kinds of kids!" Baloney). </p>
<p>I guess I'm not surprised to hear she has real issues with the boundaries of truth--but I did appreciate the energy she brought to the admissions game--and I hope MIT keeps that spirit going.</p>
<p>On the contrary, this forum has been my support community today (and for a few days now on other issues). Folks here have helped me think straight and through. So thanks everyone, including you.</p>
<p>There's more to it than that, I'm sure. Universities don't answer the phone, people do. The people who answer the phone don't generally have investigative authority, and the people with investigative authority don't generally respond to mysterious, anonymous calls making vague accusations. Someone got someone in a position of real authority on the phone, and convinced him or her that the caller's information was credible.</p>
<p>^^^Ooohh...interesting question! Has her daughter applied yet (I know she is around the right age)? I know, I know...my sadistic side is coming out! I can't help it :).</p>
<p>P.S. I'm sorry pundit, but I subscribe to the "in the public eye" line of thinking. You put yourself out there, you're fair game, and so is your family. That's just the way it is to me. That's also why I have zero desire to be in the public eye in anyway--I value my privacy!</p>
<p>I was wondering that, too. Either inadvertently or knowingly erroneous, depending on what her mother told her. Hard to imagine which must hurt more.</p>
<p>I don't hear anyone "crowing" or "rejoicing". Some of us are simply more appalled than others, not that she got caught, but that she spoke at length and publicly about honesty while lying herself.</p>
<p>But I have to agree that this should not reflect badly on admitted students, male or female.</p>
<p>I agree JHS, but I'm sure they didn't make vague accusations over the phone. He or she probably confirmed the facts through the proper channels before notifying someone at MIT.</p>
<p>advantagious: She may be in the public eye, but her college-age daughter is not. I'm sure her daughter is going through strong emotions right now, and there is no need to harass an innocent.</p>
<p>I am sad for the wonderful people who worked for her and have shared so much wisdom and warmth with this forum. I did have more than my share of questions and comments regarding what Cheers calls the "doublespeak" but, in the end, I also listened to people like Ben Jones who knew her better and always defended her position. </p>
<p>MIT cannot afford to forgive her, but we sure can. Humans are fragile.</p>