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63 Comments
- nepidae, on 05/30/2009, -0/+21A bold but unfortunate truth. However it doesn't mean this type of thing shouldn't be exposed.
- wilspoak, on 05/30/2009, -0/+21In other news, the sky is still blue.
- gall07, on 05/29/2009, -2/+22I am hopping mad! My son was one of the students wait-listed at U of I for the 2008/09 school year, to be notified in June of the decision to not admit him. We were never advised of the appeal process or the Category I system and the role that clout can play in the admission process. In fact, his letter advising that he'd been wait-listed specifically stated to refrain from sending in additional information in support of his application. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a public institution in the state of Illinois plays political favors, but I am disappointed that this bastion of higher learning does not maintain an impartial admission process. STUDENTS SHOULD BE ADMITTED ON THEIR OWN MERITS!
- jakereilly, on 05/30/2009, -0/+16This just in: College's are susceptible to corruption and money just like any other organization. More at 11.
- nahsrocketeer75, on 05/29/2009, -0/+16This is sleazy as hell ... and as common as keg parties. Who you know; it's always who you know.
- redrabbit, on 05/30/2009, -3/+18Just the first step in something your kid was going to have to learn sooner or later:
Life isn't fair. - Psygnosis, on 05/30/2009, -2/+16OMG!! Knowing or being 'someone' can help you get into a school!? Well I never!
- allyclark, on 05/29/2009, -2/+14The bigger story should be whether these "clout" students getting the fast track into the University of Illinois slack off when admitted. Are these students really getting a free ride or do they work hard to take advantage of the opportunity they have been given? What are their GPA's and extra-curricular activities IN college? If they find that "clout" students are going for the party then that is a HUGE problem. BUT, if they are working hard and graduating with high GPA's. It would show the problem is with the admissions process NOT with applicants taking advantage of all options to further their education.
- inactive, on 05/30/2009, -1/+8This just in: Networking and connections can prove beneficial.
- spfldnet, on 05/29/2009, -1/+7Well of course. Everywhere in Illinois it's not how much you know but whom. If you're somewhat intelligent, you will be a threat to everyone else and won't get hired, and if you are really intelligent, you shouldn't be looking for jobs, but creating jobs.
- EchoAlpha, on 05/30/2009, -1/+7The problem is that the trustees are appointed by the governor, not elected. All of the current trustees were appointed by George Ryan (who went to prison) and Blago (who should go to prison). The only exception is the student trustee who is elected by the student body.
- inactive, on 05/30/2009, -0/+6And they say college doesn't prepare you for the future.
- wilspoak, on 05/30/2009, -0/+5Let's send him to prison too, just to be safe...
- dlane4, on 05/30/2009, -0/+5http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/coll ...
durrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
its a tier 1 school = competitive - usefulidiot127, on 05/30/2009, -1/+6As a graduating senior at Illinois, this is complete *****. What a slap in the face to those of us that worked our ways in. I thought this story was overblown at first, but then I read the emails. Look at these quotes... I'm sure this happens all over the place, but its disgusting to see how casual this really is. I barely got into engineering here, and I have a lot of good friends that weren't so lucky.
"...This is now the third candidate that we have been forced to admit. ... (Redacted) will not be a successful student here and I have very real concerns about his ability to pass the Bar. ... we are setting this young man up to fail."
Admissions officer Abel Montoya, who handled patronage candidates, asks for permission to admit someone from the clout list.
"Sorry, but I need to keep track of these requests for students who can't get in on their own credentials."
He has a (redacted) ACT and is (redacted) percentile at Stevenson. He would be another good candidate for June. ... Hope we don't take too big of a hit for putting him in ahead of other more qualified students."
A trustee helps a Lincoln Park High School student successfully appeal her rejection. Marshall declares that the student has "terrible credentials," but plans to admit her in June when it's less likely to raise eyebrows at her high school.
"We need to move her in as late as possible."
-- Marshall (2009) - nepidae, on 05/30/2009, -1/+6They must be white if its causing this much of a stir. Anyway this is how business works, is it any surprise it happens in University?
- nepidae, on 05/30/2009, -0/+5Its not limitted to Illinois.
- prbutler00, on 05/30/2009, -1/+5I am a student at U of I. I am sure this happens at a lot of schools, but this does not make it right. I hope action is taken against all those involved. Here is an email Chancellor Richard Herman sent out to the entire student body this afternoon concerning the article...
Dear Campus Community
I am writing you to respond to today's story in the Chicago Tribune regarding admissions policies at Illinois.
Let me state at the outset that I have full confidence in our Office of Undergraduate Admissions and its professional and dedicated staff led by Associate Provost Keith Marshall and Director Stacey Kostell. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has an admissions process based on integrity and fairness, one that produces an incoming class that ranks among the best academically in the nation. Our graduates go on to do great work in the world and, in turn, they reward us through their support and loyalty as Illinois alumni.
It is no secret that competition for admission at Illinois is stiff. Thousands of people contact University administrators and others with ties to the university every year in regard to the admissions process - 2,300 calls alone are received by the admissions office on the first decision day. This year, the university received 26,000 applications for only about 7,000 seats in the incoming class. For the Class of 2013, the average ACT score was 28 and the average high school class rank was in the 88th percentile. We are proud of this tradition of academic quality.
As a land grant university we remain committed to be inclusive and accessible in our pursuit of academic excellence. We seek to represent as closely as we can the full demographic of the state. With that in mind, we will continue to look at academic qualifications and other pertinent information included in each application while asking whether we believe the student will succeed at our university.
Admissions is not a science. However, we welcome the challenge the Tribune story presents to make every possible effort to ensure the integrity our admissions process.
But given our high retention rate and the many successes of our graduates, we believe we mostly get it right.
Richard Herman
Chancellor
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor - capnawesome, on 05/30/2009, -0/+4I took a Chicago Politics class and the professor was this old guy that knew the system in and out. Back in the day just promising to vote for Daly could get your kid into and a scholarship to U of I..
- skilar, on 05/30/2009, -0/+3This article is actually about, um, UIUC (Tier 1), not UIC (Tier 3):
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/coll ... - inactive, on 05/30/2009, -0/+3This story is about public corruption and influence peddling. If you are not from Chicago you won't understand.
- thelastcivilian, on 05/30/2009, -1/+4I. AM. SHOCKED.
- isopusapuffin, on 05/30/2009, -1/+4This is very good reporting and evidence why newspapers--if they die--will be sorely missed.
- inigomntoya, on 05/30/2009, -0/+3Well, for starters:
Millions of dollars in tuition floating around and tenured professors with useless pet projects to fund...
"Yeah, I need approximately, uhm, $2 million to research the mating habits of Freshman coeds." - gospe1337, on 05/30/2009, -2/+5Why was your son in a position to be wait listed? UoI isn't exactly Northwestern or UoC.
- memper, on 05/30/2009, -0/+3Keep it classy Illinois!
- inigomntoya, on 05/30/2009, -0/+3But this is a state run school we are talking about here. Anyone who pays taxes should have an equal opportunity to be accepted.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think that every Tom, Dick, and Harry should be admitted because I believe that competition (even at college) is a good thing. But this is blatant and ridiculous.
The professional connections that I have now I made at a state run college. They have definitely got my foot in the door. These kids deserve the same chance to make those same types of contacts.
I hope every minority that didn't get accepted sues the hell out of this school. - casuallyevil, on 05/30/2009, -0/+3Wrong school artard...
- Zoness48, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2This is *****, I had very high grades and ACT score and I still didn't get in when I got into a bunch of other Illinois schools.
- nsbomb, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2The article did not say whether these kids were receiving aid at all.
Financial aid is a tool colleges use to reel in talent. The admissions officers were reluctant to offer these kids spots... I don't understand why the financial aid officers would give money to kids begging and pleading to attend. - bipolarruledout, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2Administration.
- nepidae, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2Forgone Conclusion would be a great name for a band.
- defwheezer, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2LEGACY!! (*burp*)
- wakingrufus, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2After i graduated highschool, I really wanted to go to U of I. I had the GPA, I had the ACT score. I took the AP classes. I was rejected. I was very upset about it, but I moved on. Now I read this in the paper and it is really angering me. to think my chance to study at one of the top schools for my field (computer science) might have been denied me because of this *****? ugh I am so disgusted. I hope this scandal tarnishes the "prestigious" reputation U of I has obtained in recent years.
- drivingalone, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2Hilarious! I go to UIC.
- vapn420, on 05/31/2009, -0/+1Looks like m4rty is in the running for freshman of the year. g'luck in college buddy
- richnojutsu, on 05/30/2009, -1/+2Congratulations for figuring out how the world works.
- quickcomment, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1I've dealt with the admissions side of things with trying to get into the UoI for a looong time. In short, this isn't surprising to me. The entire admissions and enrollment operation at the University seems intentionally set up to be restrictive in who gets admitted.
In fact, I will say it goes far beyond just being 'highly selective' and more like it is intentionally prohibitive in providing educational opportunities to individuals in the region that it supposedly serves. - jayjayjoni, on 05/30/2009, -2/+3doesn't matter if they are from lower income families or are minorities.
- inigomntoya, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1Dibs!
- vapn420, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1The whole purpose of having a staff is for the students you admit. If you have a corrupt admissions process, then what is the point of even having qualified staff?
- nsbomb, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1I will be attending UIUC next year, and you have no idea how often I tell a person 'I am attending the University of Illinois' they say: 'Oh... so the one is Chicago?'
I am also from Wisconsin, that might be part of the problem. - vapn420, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1Uh... no. It wouldn't matter if they worked their balls off even if they got in. They cheated to get into college. They basically took away from someone who actually worked to prepare for higher education. It doesn't matter if these people end up becoming brain surgeons, they still cheated to get into college.
- m4rty, on 05/30/2009, -1/+2I got accepted to the University of Illinois this year and am attending this fall.
This whole clout scandal thing is really okay with me, the thing that really makes me mad is that these kids are probably getting a lot of scholarship money - even full rides - while I get screwed with nothing because my parents aren't dirt poor. - vapn420, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1And this is what I've been waiting to hear. The Tribune blew this up but we all know that this doesn't just happen at public universities. With enough money, connections, or correct skin pigment, you can get into ANY school in America, graduate with a ***** major, and voila, are a college grad, pride and joy of your family.
- o76923, on 05/30/2009, -1/+1They're called legacies. Generally speaking, schools have a minimum criteria for acceptance. There's no rule that says they need to pick from the top of pile once they are above that acceptance line. They include extracurriculars, community service, demographic information, and legacies. Its not a secret, why would a news article about it be surprising?
- vapn420, on 05/31/2009, -0/+0Gospe, why do you suck so much at life?
- vapn420, on 05/30/2009, -0/+0Tenured professors aren't like politicians with pet projects... professors actually know what they are doing. Colleges have huge endowments, and hire people to make those endowments bigger... and that is why they are susceptible to corruption. Also, not to mention, if they piss off any politicians, they might not see as much money next year.
- chief302, on 05/30/2009, -3/+3Save the Chief!
- k1n6, on 05/30/2009, -2/+2You mean someone used their influence to get someone into college *gasp* oh wait... thats not news.
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Show 51 - 63 of 63 discussions
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