Queen Michael said:
Katatori-kun said:
My mother bought a copy of "Who's Who Among American High School Students". That's a scam.
What is it?
Parents of High school students got a letter claiming that their child(ren) were selected to appear in Who's Who, making it sound as if it's some great honor, when in truth the "nomination" process was unclear. Sometimes children who actually have achievements get nominated, and sometimes children with no discernible achievements get nominated. In any case, the letter promised there is no cost to be listed in their book, but recommended parents buy an expensive, professionally-bound copy (I believe for something like $70). If they do so, they get a book where their child's name is listed on one line among thousands of other names.
Basically they played on parents' vanity and desire for recognition for their children in order to make money. They promised that being listed in the book will help with college applications,despite admissions officers saying they see being listed as irrelevant at best and slightly negative at worst. They also didn't fact-check or confirm their listings, so in at one case as a joke a school sent in a joke listing and it was printed despite the school later contacting the company and requesting the nomination be withdrawn.
The company is now bankrupt though, so it's no longer a going concern. But my mother still has the book(s) on the shelf. Right next to the encyclopaediae from 1988 that no one reads anymore.