<p>from reading the article, the imposter just seems like someone who lied so much that they actually believed themselves</p>
<p>wow, think of how many people <em>didnt</em> get caught</p>
<p>that article is so long though...it could've taken a few paragraphs to write the whole story</p>
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Hence, it's rather hard for me to get too upset over a guy who bent the rules to get into an Ivy, when, frankly, the rules themselves are unfair. As things stand now, those who have the mere luck to be born to powerful families enjoy a significant admissions advantage over those who don't have that luck.
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<p>The rules themselves are unfair? These are private universities. They can devise whatever rules they want -- as long as they don't discriminate against certain races, religions, etc. But they can devise whatever rules they want.</p>
<p>People still don't get that.</p>
<p>But yeah, fraud is something else altogether.</p>
<p>These stories make me so angry! One of my children was ultimately rejected by Yale; he, like many if not most applicants, were clearly qualified (1600 SAT, 17 AP tests, etc.). People like this guy take spots from truly qualified applicants. Yes, life is unfair, and my son happily ended up at another "top ten" school, but shouldn't this guy receive greater punishment?</p>
<p>sakky,</p>
<p>How does one ultimately prove that they were worthy of having been admitted to an Ivy League school? If being elected President and Vice President of the United States of America doesn't prove it, what does?? :)</p>
<p>This took me a half hour to read but it was well worth it. I can't believe he managed to get through with the admissions through forging. He's definitely all-around brilliant.</p>
<p>Gore even graduated cum laude Bay. I do agree with sakky on one point though, there are in my opinion, inherently immoral admissions processes at the top schools. Being private does not excuse them. I'm not going to outline them here, but you can guess what they are. Thus, I don't feel bad for the institutions taken advantage of or have a sense of moral outrage against the student who does this. All I take from this is how fascinatingly stupid, brand name driven, or some combination of the two some people are in this country.</p>
<p>As we very well may see in November (judging by recent polls), being elected Vice President speaks absolutely nothing about a person's intelligence or sanity.</p>
<p>By the way, I wouldn't be surprised if this fellow hung out on CC and posted the occasional chances thread. The Ivy League Frenzy on CC is precisely what fuels such behavior.</p>
<p>BigAl that's actually a good point. This generation of college admissions is going to be very interesting and yet scary in some ways.</p>
<p>I agree with catsushi completely in that that kid's story was like a ridiculous soap opera. I cannot even imagine the life experiences that he has already at age 26.<br>
Also, I'm amazed by how society can be so easily cheated by people with the guts, intelligence, and lack of morals to do so. The fact that he got so far, and almost succeeded too, says to me that other people may have done similar things (well, maybe not quite as insane as him) and not gotten caught.</p>
<p>I think its really shows us about the state of higher education of America. Everyone is under the misconception that unless you get into HYPSM you will not succeed in life and cannot life well. With this misconception people are willing to do anything to get into HYPSM. I think if everyone would start saying that in all honesty as an undergraduate you will probably learn the same thing no matter what the college is. Intro to Bio is the same all across the nation. That is how universities are accredited. I think if this idea is better preached a lot of the exaggerations that go into college apps and the whole "honest" process will actually be better. My 2 cents.</p>
<p>I think that regardless of the ethics of the admissions policies, the key point is not that he took advantage of Yale, the key point is that he took advantage of someone else who would have been able to transfer. Regardless of who was smarter, Yale would not function if everyone were able to decide for themselves if they deserved to be accepted. Most people recognize this, and wouldn't try to gain acceptance outside of the system that is in place for gaining acceptance, even if they thought they could get away with it.<br>
Even if the system is flawed, the only reason this guy got something he, and many other people wanted, was because he wasn't bound by ethics, the way most people are. Historically this has not been thought of as a good thing, and I don't see how this situation is different.</p>
<p>Agreed with sakky and Morsmordre.</p>
<p>This is no different from what happens all the time, even here on CC. We've all seen the stories: should I notify X College that Y student lied on his application? I know someone going to Stanford next year who completely lied in her essays. People are being dishonest all the time. They just don't get caught. It's depressing, but it's true.</p>
<p>I'm not making a judgement, but why didn't you tell Stanford?</p>
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<p>True, but the fact that people who are fortunate enough to be born into powerful families gain an overwhelming advantage in IVY admissions is wrong doesn't really mean that what the kid did was right. The rules may be unfair in the sense that they unjustly favor certain groups, making many within these groups to gain admittance over other more well qualified applicants. But, by cheating, the same thing results, an unqualified applicant gets in over other more deserving applicants. Its the same logic.</p>
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<p>Just because people cheat all the time doesn't make it right does it? Plus, those are essays. This kid forged his whole transcript.</p>
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Have I mentioned I love you? he wrote on Cazaress Facebook wall a few days later.
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<p>If the story wasn't so sad, it would be hilarious.</p>
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I'm not making a judgement, but why didn't you tell Stanford?
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<p>How to prove it? (This person was pathetic--horrible background. Getting admission revoked = very bad for this person's health.)</p>
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Just because people cheat all the time doesn't make it right does it?
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<p>I'm not saying it's right. I'm saying that this is getting more attention than necessary--he's just one case of many where students cheat, but he actually got caught.</p>
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Plus, those are essays. This kid forged his whole transcript.
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<p>I'm suggesting a scale of fraudulence. Essays are one thing. The transcript is another. (Plus, considering how very little else this person had, she's pretty sure it was her essays were what got her in.)</p>
<p>Wow! I've never met anyone so psychologically screwed up in my life. I hate college admissions!</p>
<p>Btw I agree with sakky. The system is really screwed up.</p>