Student lies his way into Harvard

eZe^ · 19-12-2010 01:21PM #1

Thought this was a pretty cool story;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/17/student-conned-harvard-sorry

He basically created his own academic persona, and gained entrance into Harvard, as well as bagging about 14,000 dollars worth of scholarships. He only got caught out when he applied for bigwig scholarships.

Fairplay to the guy, he almost did it, just got that little bit too greedy. Makes you think though, maybe that small bit of embellishment to your C.V could be the difference between getting your next job and missing out. Or is that the worst attitude possible, and eventually the lie will catch up with you a la Mr. Wheeler?

galwayrush · 19-12-2010 01:23PM

He still failed overall.;)

jumpguy · 19-12-2010 01:26PM

Fair play and all, but sure if we all did that...

eZe^ · 19-12-2010 01:30PM

galwayrush wrote: »

He still failed overall.;)

Bit of a Daedalus and Icarus story really though, flying too close to the sun on wings made of wax. If he was that little bit less greedy, he would have literally lied himself into getting a degree from the most prestigious university in the world. Food for thought regardless of how it ended up.

Scuid Mhór · 19-12-2010 01:31PM

sorry, guys, i thought i could get away with it. i didn't meant to shame myself and all of boards.ie...

CantGetNoSleep · 19-12-2010 01:32PM

A condition of his probation is that he cannot profit from his story, haha there goes his idea of writing a book / making a film

eZe^ · 19-12-2010 01:42PM

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

A condition of his probation is that he cannot profit from his story, haha there goes his idea of writing a book / making a film

Probably for the best, otherwise the amount of people conning their way into this countries finest jobs would go through the roof. We'd have hundreds of Bill Cullen's in 10 years time.

:p:p:p:p

orourkeda · 19-12-2010 01:46PM

eZe^ wrote: »

Thought this was a pretty cool story;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/17/student-conned-harvard-sorry

He basically created his own academic persona, and gained entrance into Harvard, as well as bagging about 14,000 dollars worth of scholarships. He only got caught out when he applied for bigwig scholarships.

Fairplay to the guy, he almost did it, just got that little bit too greedy. Makes you think though, maybe that small bit of embellishment to your C.V could be the difference between getting your next job and missing out. Or is that the worst attitude possible, and eventually the lie will catch up with you a la Mr. Wheeler?

Theres no fairplay in this story and he deserves no credit.

I feel really sorry for the genuine candidate that missed out because of the deception of a bogus candidate.

Ghandee · 19-12-2010 02:00PM

orourkeda wrote: »

Theres no fairplay in this story and he deserves no credit.

I feel really sorry for the genuine candidate that missed out because of the deception of a bogus candidate.

Lighten up a wee bit ffs!

Canis Lupus · 19-12-2010 02:06PM

Gucky wrote: »

Lighten up a wee bit ffs!

Well no. Someone, who deserved the spot, lost out because of his con job.

Ghandee · 19-12-2010 02:11PM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Well no. Someone, who deserved the spot, lost out because of his con job.

The fact that this kid, conned (very successfully) the top brass from one of the most exclusive academic facilities in the world, makes him smarter than them in my eyes.

phasers · 19-12-2010 02:18PM

What were his grades like in Harvard? I'd have let him stay and finish his degree tbh

weemcd · 19-12-2010 02:52PM

Like this to a point, until he got greedy for the bigger scholarships and i lose any shade of respect I had. Reminds me of catch me if you can.

fulhamfanincork · 19-12-2010 02:56PM

It reminds me of the passion of the christ.

Korvanica · 19-12-2010 03:02PM

he'd be a good politician

twinQuins · 19-12-2010 03:03PM

Good to see the idolisation of the "cute hoor" is still alive and well. People have too romanticised a view of con artists like this.

fedor.2. · 19-12-2010 03:08PM

Scuid Mhór wrote: »

sorry, guys, i thought i could get away with it. i didn't meant to shame myself and all of boards.ie...

eh yeah rite:rolleyes:

MightyMighty737 · 19-12-2010 03:23PM

Bet ya Mark Zuckerberg will give him a job.

Biggins · 19-12-2010 03:26PM

He's probably not the first to do this in all honesty.

whatsamsn · 19-12-2010 03:30PM

Lets be honest....
Good on him

kelle · 19-12-2010 03:36PM

I'm amazed a place like Harvard didn't do any checks on his qualifications from the start!
I admire his cheek.

Son Of A Vidic · 19-12-2010 03:41PM

Biggins wrote: »

He's probably not the first to do this in all honesty.

Absolutely and he won't be the last, he just wanted to many eggs in his basket.

19-12-2010 04:00PM

Gucky wrote: »

The fact that this kid, conned (very successfully) the top brass from one of the most exclusive academic facilities in the world, makes him smarter than them in my eyes.

I think you'll find many people would be capable of it but wouldn't be dishonest and pathetic enough to do it. He now owes Harvard over 45 grand and has been exposed as a cheat and fraud to the entire world, and he can't even write a book about it. Yeah, not very smart.

OutlawPete · 19-12-2010 04:06PM

Gucky wrote: »

Lighten up a wee bit ffs!

You try and be an Aston Villa fan and see what it does to your soul :mad:

krudler · 19-12-2010 04:07PM

Its like Good Will Hunting, but without Robin Williams

HavingCrack · 19-12-2010 04:17PM

This is far more embarressing to Harvard than anythign else really. I'm suprised they didn't try to cover it up somehow, reflects very badly on their admissions policy.

Da Shins Kelly · 19-12-2010 04:24PM

Fair play to the chancer. However, it was a pretty bad faux pas on the part of Harvard, for not even bothering to investigate their possible students' background. It only took one professor to spot it, if they'd actually looked into it earlier, the whole thing could have been avoided. A simple inquiry to MIT probably would have sufficed.

That said, fair play to him for pulling the wool over their eyes. He probably didn't even think himself that the lies would work out as well as they did. He nearly got away with it, like.

Stinicker · 19-12-2010 04:29PM

He qualifies for membership of Fianna Fail.

Iguana Bob · 19-12-2010 04:41PM

just a question for yas. i have a deg in engineering but not once for any place iv worked in or done an interview for has asked for proof.
i could easily just lie and for the interview study everything the interviwer could ask me and get the job

ScissorPaperRock · 19-12-2010 04:47PM

Iguana Bob wrote: »

just a question for yas. i have a deg in engineering but not once for any place iv worked in or done an interview for has asked for proof.
i could easily just lie and for the interview study everything the interviwer could ask me and get the job

What's the question?

x in the city · 19-12-2010 04:48PM

am i the only one in thinking this would be grade A film making...

*calls di caprio...

Student lies his way into Harvard

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