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Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

sfchronicle.com

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Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#22

It is somewhat amusing that they give scholarships to people with financial industry background, who are the least in need, and who will receive the highest salaries on exit - and then claim that their scholarships are need based. At least they are teaching their students the ethics they need to succeed in the financial industry.

Well, Stanford has a need for future rich donors. Perhaps that’s the need being met?

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#23
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Companies can have both a diversity policy and a policy to make sure the top talents don't go elsewhere. University too, can have a diversity policy as well as a merit policy. To compete and attract the best students, University must either provide merit based scholarship, or organize with other universities to get rid of merit based scholarships everywhere (cartel!)

Sure, but don’t lie about it. If it’s not need-based, don’t insist it’s need-based.

Ok, lies are unacceptable.

To play devil's advocate here: the press and the public do not want to hear that tech companies pay 7 digits of monthly salary to attract some talent. Nor do they want to hear that Universities have to offer merit based scholarships to attract top students, otherwise these students will go elsewhere.

Companies advertise their diversity efforts but not the salaries of their executives. Stanford said what the public wanted to hear.

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#24
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Companies can have both a diversity policy and a policy to make sure the top talents don't go elsewhere. University too, can have a diversity policy as well as a merit policy. To compete and attract the best students, University must either provide merit based scholarship, or organize with other universities to get rid of merit based scholarships everywhere (cartel!)

Sure, but don’t lie about it. If it’s not need-based, don’t insist it’s need-based.

The narrative must be maintained, comrade!

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#25

Having worked at a university at one point I can understand how shitty security is at virtually all universities. But Stanford claims to turn out brilliant technologists (in addition to these overpaid MBAs) yet apparently doesn't hire any.

> shitty security is at virtually all universities.

Shitty compared to whom? Who are the examplars of information security universities aren't matching? Academia security doesn't look so bad compared to governmental or corporate security.

Security involves trade-offs and some of universities' lower security is a conscious choice to not impair academic freedom or collaboration.

> apparently doesn't hire any.

If their graduates are as good as claimed, the University can't afford them. And many wouldn't want to work there because most of the University's problems are not interesting.

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#26

It is somewhat amusing that they give scholarships to people with financial industry background, who are the least in need, and who will receive the highest salaries on exit - and then claim that their scholarships are need based. At least they are teaching their students the ethics they need to succeed in the financial industry.

> who are the least in need, and who will receive the highest salaries on exit

Keep in mind they not only give scholarships but also education to the least in need .

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#27

One of my favorite realizations is that more things are free when you have money. People just want your business. It’s expensive being poor.

Payday loans, credit card interest. Financing plans. Being poor is cripplingly expensive.

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#28
post #2

For the sake of an argument, there is some merit to diversity preference: if a disadvantaged candidate made as much progress agains the headwind as a regular candidate, it stands to reason they are more capable. Thoughts?

Not for business school. Nothing about business study is particularly rigorous or requires extraordinary intelligence. In truth, being dumb as a rock, but having the right social pedigree and network is totally fine.

Legacy WASP types have had no problem running many institutions, and most of them are pretty average in terms of capability.

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#29
post #5
post #3

Not surprising. These are primarily businesses after all with billions of dollars of investments and brand value to maintain. You can’t expect them to give an education to just anyone off the street!

The skew discovered was in favor of two groups: 1. existing financial-background applicants 2. diversity candidates. The former improves average post-graduation median salary, so it's good for the reputation. But I doubt the latter contributes in the same way.

You're getting downvoted, presumably for your last sentence, but I read what you wrote literally and agree. "Diversity candidates" do not contribute in the same way as those with a financial background. But they do contribute. They've earned their places and make it a better school. I do not buy into the cynical idea that big universities with big endowments are really just businesses trying to make money.

Re: Stanford University data glitch exposes truth about scholarships

#30
He asked that the report not be shared publicly because he has returned the data to the school

This isn't how data works. It isn't something physical. It's 2017. After the whole media piracy FUD that dragged on for years, everyone should understand how it works. Stanford had the data all along. The article doesn't say that Allcock deleted the data so he may still have it even if he gave Stanford "back" a copy.

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