How Rich Kids "Succeed"

[Hannah Bell]

A very interesting article by a person who claims to have earned many tens of thousands of dollars writing reports, term papers, proposals, and theses for the incompetent, the lazy rich, and those who can’t write in English.

“From my experience, three demographic groups seek out my services: the English-as-second-language student; the hopelessly deficient student; and the lazy rich kid.

“For the last, colleges are a perfect launching ground—they are built to reward the rich and to forgive them their laziness. Let’s be honest: The successful among us are not always the best and the brightest, and certainly not the most ethical. My favorite customers are those with an unlimited supply of money and no shortage of instructions on how they would like to see their work executed. While the deficient student will generally not know how to ask for what he wants until he doesn’t get it, the lazy rich student will know exactly what he wants. He is poised for a life of paying others and telling them what to do. Indeed, he is acquiring all the skills he needs to stay on top.”

http://gfbrandenburg.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/paying-someone-else-to-do-your-research-and-writing/

[Brickbat]

1. I've been faced with opportunities to do this kind of work. It makes me sick to think about it.

The guy is part of the problem, but his story was fascinating, if infuriating.

ETA: And when I say "problem," I mean "the charade that is higher education."

[Starry Messenger]

2. k&r

[Lasher]

3. And with college becoming more unaffordable for the average person,

the wealthy elite will be sure to stay on top.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. I once taught a week at a rich day school and the Headmaster "schooled" me about his charges.

I showed him some really deplorable English assignments that I collected and he was serene with it all. He told me that these kids were going to be made junior vice presidents in their father's corporations with secretaries with masters degrees who would clean up their spelling, grammar, and organization. In other words, it wasn't necessary for them to be able to write or have reading comprehension.

[blindpig]

5. Choosing one's parents is important. n/t

[Pryderi]

6. k&r

[Leftist Agitator]

7. I have thought about doing this, actually

And for $66,000 / year, ethics be damned.

[SoCalDem]

8. I knew a guy in college who took tests & did reports for a living

Of course this was back in the "stone age", when proctors took attendance with a verbal response or by passing a sheet around & you just check off your name.

It was the viet nam era & John was desperate to stay in school He was basically a 6th year senior. Every opportunity he had, he would change his major, so he "needed" more classes. To kill the boredom, he did other people's work:(

Most of his "clients" were jocks & rich kids who were too busy partying to go to class..

[Pryderi]

9. Like "Dubya"?

[coalition_unwilling]

10. You might also want to check out a companion piece:

http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article10100801.aspx