After debating with myself on whether to use the BS word in the title or not, I finally decided not to censor myself on my own blog and went ahead with it. Censoring the BS word on a BS topic is actually some BS in itself; and using BS instead of bullshit is also bullshit … so what gives.
Anyways, the point of discussion is that, recently, it has come to my attention that one of our “highly decorated” acquaintances might have misled a number of scholarship organisers with her “powerful” essays and personal statements. We (me and my wife) happened to figure this out over a dinner meeting when we heard of some extraordinary high-flying crap (unreasonably lofty ideals, fake “personal life experiences”, etc.) from this person. A few things just jumped out at us as pretty obvious discrepancies (when you have been through a similar experience, you can very easily tell when the other person is exaggerating/lying - sort of) and a few other odd things we figured out after pondering over the entire story all over again.
I was thinking over it for a while and then realized that she is just playing the scholarship system to her advantage. Almost every scholarship/award that I have seen in seven years of graduate school asked for an essay or a personal experience statement, or some document of that sort. Many of the scholarships/organizers specifically state (verbally or otherwise) that, generally, very similar academic profiles of graduate students, scholarship decisions will ultimately boil down to a contest between personal statements. “Powerful” personal statements will have a better chance of getting the scholarship.
Now, I haven’t really understood this obsession with “powerful” personal statements and essays .. and with preferences for people with “powerful life experiences”. Sounds very “Miss America” like. This obsession for larger-than-life idiocy encourages words over deeds, lofty ideas over achievable targets, and bullshit over plain old simple truth.
Why should something dramatic happen in your life to make you eligible for a scholarship? Why is it necessary to relate your success to obscure words that your mom/dad (or a dead relative) said 20 years ago? Why is it necessary to “boast” about your far-fetched “noble” intentions in future (which are not really “noble” the moment you start boasting about them)?
Interestingly enough, almost none of the scholarships will actually take the pains to verify any of your “personal” events. So whatever you throw at them will be accepted - and even glorified. So where is the motivation to be honest and straightforward about who you are, why you want the scholarship, and what you want to do with the money you will get from the award?
As educational expenses rise, we will probably see more such bullshit floating around in future.
I wonder what else we will do for money.
Is it too much to ask for a very little tiny bit of personal honor? Or is that some kind of bullshit too?
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Wow — thanks for letting me know how to pay for grad school next year! *sound of bubble bursting*
Really… I know that when I first went to college (a very long time ago) I got in on the basis of my essays because my grades weren’t that good (Bs with a few As for flavor). It’s all about “spin” from getting a job, to a promotion, to anything similar that relies on qualitative (as opposed to quantitative) data.
I am looking at a rather impressive new debt burden when I return to school for a graduate degree next year because to be honest there just aren’t many scholarships out there for stay at home moms who want to return to the work force as teachers. I can try, but I am not “special” (except to my family and my dog). Most scholarships depend on minority status of some kind or at least an affiliation with a specific group. Stay at home moms don’t have a “group” — the play date and PTO don’t count!
Oh — and I like the new look of the blog.
Good to see you blogging again. I never saw anything like this at the graduate level. Undergrad, yes, that’s what they might look for because usually people don’t have any real experience worth anything.
Wow… I think it points out how goody-two-shoes I am that I never even THOUGHT about lying on a scholarship essay. This might explain why I don’t win that many, despite entering a ton and having a sort of quirky home situation. Maybe my real adversity is losing out to someone’s bullshit? Bah!
I’m not surprised that it comes down to not much more than a writing contest or a form a popularity contest. I’ve never applied for a scholarship but a few friends that did really didn’t have extraordinary papers and still got them. I guess it depends on where you are.
I do agree that what you’re seeing is complete bullshit.
@Matt,
I’ve also heard it depends on how many candidates apply. If there are only 10 applicants for 12 scholarships, sometimes everyone is awarded one.
Someone once told me that their non-Native American friend received a scholarship targeted to Native Americans, because there were more scholarships available than Native American applicants. In order to maintain the amount of money granted, the organization was allowed to award scholarships to non-Native Americans to insure the same or greater funding in future years.
“Someone once told me that their non-Native American friend received a scholarship targeted to Native Americans, because there were more scholarships available than Native American applicants. In order to maintain the amount of money granted, the organization was allowed to award scholarships to non-Native Americans to insure the same or greater funding in future years.”
I am 1/8 American Indian, enough to qualify to be on a tribal roll and receive scholarship benefits. I was not raised with any familial connection to the tribe. I chose NOT to do this because it felt dishonest to me, but when I read stories like yours, I wind up wondering if I should have done it.
This explains why I didn’t win any scholarship. Damn, what kind of bullshit is that.
“This explains why I didn’t win any scholarship. Damn, what kind of bullshit is that. :-)” Better luck next time!!
“Interestingly enough, almost none of the scholarships will actually take the pains to verify any of your “personal” events.”
It makes perfectly logical sense, why should they with so many applicants? Great post Golb.
“words over deeds, lofty ideas over achievable targets, and bullshit over plain old simple truth”
You just defined academia. Amusing that fifteen words can explain the entire college experience.
This is, incidentally, why I chose not to pursue a masters degree.
Where were these bs scholarships when I needed them? They could have saved me a ton in student loans…
That’s how the world operates. If you know how to talk to people and tell them what they want to hear you could do almost anything and you’ll still be a hero and end up much richer. Check the subprime mess as an example!
This is so GREAT!! I am in my first year of school after 30 years. I am a single parent and have applied for scholarships and have heard NOTHING! Most of them are for the younger people, there is not much for nontraditional or single parents. That is why most stay at their dead end jobs and miserable. I had heard about all the help availible to single parents and that is BS!! I am trying to have a better future for me and my child and in doing so I never see my daughter because I have to work full time and go to school full time(to get my grant for school). BS might be the way to go!!
I think it will be harder and harder to get a scholarship money this year. Hope I am not right.
@ Currency. you’re absolutely right. With the present climate,schorlarship will mean more debt?
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