Homelss Intel semi-finalist

xiggi
Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:03:28 +0000

Xiggi, just like every other aspect of college admissions or any other competitive pursuit, there are sure to be imbalances and deceits in the Intel competition. But it doesn’t mean we should dismiss the hard work that – in my opinion – the majority of these kids do.



Fwiw, none of my criticisms are meant to dismiss the WORK the students do. As it is often the case, many of those students spent their precious youth accumulating awards and achievements to respond to parental pressures. In so many ways, the students are victimized by a process that has spun out of control.

In the case of the Intel competition, I maintain that removing the impact from ALL admission issues would eliminate its biggest attraction. All that would be needed is to delay the announcements of Semis until May and the Finalists until June. Still plenty of time to offer the scholarships.

But let’s not kidding ourselves about the main objective of this competition! Nor kid ourselves about what it has become in certain parts of the US.