Big business of bad advice

In the last few days in Pakistan, I have been speaking to aspiring students who are eager to pursue higher education abroad. While one can debate whether the pastures are actually greener abroad or not, there is no question that an ever greater number of students are not thrilled about the local offerings. This is particularly true for students who are interested in basic or applied sciences and see limited opportunities in the country beyond one or two institutions. But that is not the only reason for them to seriously consider options outside the country. I heard palpable anxiety about the economic future of the country, amplified by voices in their own networks that is encouraging them to leave. There are, of course, lots of reasons why that chorus of voices is getting louder, and whether everything in that chorus is worth listening to.

The desire to find stability, seek opportunities for intellectual development, follow dreams of spending a life in pursuit of knowledge are natural. I am all too familiar with that desire, for I chose that path and live that life. What is, however, unacceptable is for individuals (and businesses) to exploit these desires and create unethical practices offering dubious advice at an astronomical price. There is now a whole industry of consultants that have seemingly made themselves indispensable. It is now assumed that landing an admission offer is next to impossible without the 'support' of these consultants. The services range from basic conversation to 'building a profile' that would attract the attention of admissions officers. For the right price, some consultants are willing to write students' essays that create an impression that the applicant basically cured cancer, or created a new battery that would solve the country's energy crisis. There have been instances of manipulating transcripts as well. All available in the free market of admission consulting.

While I was familiar with some of these practices, the continued expansion and even higher prices came as a surprise. Just as disturbing was the quality of the advice that was being given. In my conversations with aspiring students (and their parents), I learned that students are being told that in addition to extracurriculars, they must have strong community service, and that working at a non-profit was no longer enough; they should have their 'own NGO'. I do not even know where to begin – the scale of absurdity and unethical nature of creating an NGO just for a college application is something I am unable to fathom. To 'look good' for a particular major, students are told to do internships that are basically a farce. The list is long and each item can be arranged with the right price.

Since my conversations, I have been wondering about two things. First, where does this leave our students and their parents? Those I spoke to were anxious and overwhelmed. There is no longer any emphasis on curiosity. It was all about sharpening the 'profile'. I felt sad, and angry, at the exploitation of someone's desire to get quality education.

But I also wondered, in a society where regulatory practices are severely lacking, what should we do? I hope we can do two things. First, awareness generation by those who have worked in higher education domestically and abroad, to point out the deeply flawed advice and unethical practices that many consulting services are providing. Second, to offer better alternatives. I am familiar with some friends and colleagues in the US and Europe who are offering free consultation services to students to help them with their applications. Those services are few and often targeted to those who are at the bottom of our socio-economic structures. This is indeed very good, but there are many in the middle who are unable to afford the high price tags and are then told that they have no chance unless they liquidate some essential assets. They too need support. Perhaps the call to action is for me, and people like me, to mentor and guide, and give honest advice. Shaping better futures should not be a money-making enterprise.