You’ve heard now how CEOs and Movie stars manipulated the system, bribed people, made up sports teams, and arranged for their kids to cheat on SATs and ACTs in order to get into “good” schools. But, have we stopped to think about why it’s so important to get into the “right” schools?
Yes, some schools have better academic rigor than others. That’s clear. You will get a better education at some schools than you will at others. That is also clear. What is not so clear, though, is why it’s worth huge bribes and risking jail to get your child into the “right,” school. And I’ll tell you why right now: Bad HR.
Human Resources, through recruiters (and to be honest, many people think these functions are completely separate, but I have never seen in-house recruiters that don’t report up to HR), make these fancy degrees far more important than they really are.
To keep reading, click here: The College Bribery and Cheating Scandal is Really a Sign of HR Failure
I’m not sure that reforming HR will end the cheating to get into the “right” schools. Are these children of the rich and famous really educating themselves to compete in the open market for a life of work? Some are, but some aren’t, and will — instead — content themselves to remain “trust fund babies” or “work” at a family business or make a career of being a celebrity, a la the Kardashians/Hiltons, etc. For some of these families, getting their children into the right schools is more a matter of bragging rights — keeping up with the Joneses — and making (or maintaining) social connections.
Two stupid articles in a single day. Do you have any clue what goes on in the world and more particularly in HR?
I think it is time for you to retire so that you can stop writing irrelevant and incorrect information.
So now that you’ve berated her, and we see that you clearly disagree, what is your take on the whole situation? If it’s not HR who’s at fault, then who is and what suggestions or thoughts even do you have on how to decrease this situation?
Also, the first article was not to be taken seriously…
I think his position is that he needs a hug, and is hoping for a cookie and some milk at bedtime.
I only ever see your name here Parker when you have something nasty and personal to say about Suzanne. You sound like a pouty little boy with a secret crush on somebody…
I often wonder if this level of pseudo-credentialing is just another form of nobility. It may not be government sanctioned, but it would not be there if not for the family pedigree.
The thing that I see in common in the last few posts from the Evil HR Lady lately is, frankly, an over estimation of HR’s “power” in an organization. Although they are supposedly the ones in charge of hiring, firing, etc. this is often dictated by those higher up in the organization. It works both ways, we may like Sally from Harvard better than Jane from the community college, but if the CEO knows Jane, guess who’s getting the job.
I completely agree… as an example the owner of the company that I work daily breaks the law, and does other things that aren’t necessarily in line with the policies that SHE has set in place, and the HR Manager has no real say about any of it…
and it is most definitely about who you know now, and not where you graduated from
I’m coming down on the side of those saying that HR doesn’t have the power to change this dynamic.
The hilarious facet for me in this foolishness is that one on the implicated institutions is The University of Southern California. USC! What a joke. Anyone — parent or employer — who thinks the education at USC is worth cheating and bribing for deserves the bad consequences they suffer.
I have to admit that was my first reaction as well! All that money for USC? That’s nuts!
What this article told me, was that learning to work the system by utilizing bribery is how the top 10% income maintains their holdings on getting those choice wages and also explains why those same high earners feel so entitled and exclusive to us regular working stiffs who do the job that gives them that income. That’s why we have this growing trend of expectation of entitlement—basic income, benefits, etc —all received without any real effort.
I earned my money and degrees by actually doing the work. College is not a party center but a place to stretch your mind to achieve your best knowledge of how to succeed as an adult who is self sustaining. These individuals used money to achieve status. All they have done is lower the value of the degree pedigree. We need to make these entitled realize that they can’t do this forever, but money always covers this up. All that will happen from this exposure is the bribery will be hidden more closely in the future. HR is merely a puppet in these procedures with no effect on what goes on. HR merely passes the paperwork through the system.
I’m an alumna of SMU Law School, an expensive school physically located in a suburb that is an island of Upper Class privilege. At the time I went there, I was a Welfare recipient, living in the Projects. One of my Professors, who chaired the Financial Aid Committee, told me that I was the only Welfare recipient who had ever attended SMU Law. That was almost 50 years ago, but is probably still the case. Several of my classmates had the same surnames as some of our campus buildings. I soon learned that it was no coincidence, but that their families were wealthy philanthropists who had donated the funds for those buildings. That explained why — even though some of those same students were so dumb they practically needed someone to “lead them out to feed them” (as we say in Texas) — almost no one at SMU Law failed academically. The faculty knew that you couldn’t really fail students paying thousands of dollars a semester to attend. And, no doubt the Admissions Committee also realized that you couldn’t reject the heirs of your big-bucks donors. However, no one is calling those practices a “scam,” at least not yet.
Ha! SWC woman here (Rice, UT for me, A&M for my brother). That explains so much!