No doubt to the relief of Princeton officials, the University was not among those implicated last month in what was called the largest COLLEGE-ADMISSIONS SCAM ever prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice. Among the allegations were falsifying test scores and transcripts, fabricating athletic abilities, ghostwriting essays, and paying bribes.
Those things are illegal. But what’s just inappropriate? Is it OK for a parent to edit a child’s essay — or to pay a professional for revisions? Should the children of alumni — or of those who donate money for a college building — get extra consideration? Is it fair to hire a test-prep tutor or invest in costly summer experiences that burnish a teenager’s résumé? Where is the line between giving your kids opportunities that will help them thrive and bestowing an unfair advantage? LET US KNOW (see below for ways to reach us). We’ll publish responses in our print issues and at PAW Online. — The Editors
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