Ghostwriters: Old News

Apparently this is breaking news for Kang Shin Who over at the Korea Times: "[Exclusive] Ghostwriters Thrive for US University Applicants." Even at my boarding school there were rumors of the Korean students who paid exorbitant sums to have people sit their SATs, write essays and even forge recommendation letters for them. What is most interesting to me is this little bit:
Many of those accepted to American universities with documents "manufactured" by private institutes are noted for quitting their studies prematurely. One such student was unable to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) after her enrollment in 2004 with the help of a ghostwriter. In reply to an inquiry, the school said that it was unaware of such cases.
Kang Shin Who seems to have tried to imply an entire statistical category based on one example. Now, I will admit that it seems logical to presume that students who couldn't meet the admissions requirements through their own merits probably had trouble hacking the actual curriculum. However, as usual the Korea Times resorted to suppositions as opposed to reporting facts.

In all honesty, what can American universities do to help stem the problem? Kang Shin Who lauded the systems in Korea that require on-site testing but is that really feasible for a country halfway around the globe? Only the very rich would be able to afford that, fewer even than can afford to pay for forged documents. If so many of the students who get in on false merits are actually flunking out, than aren't they getting their dues already?

There is lots on education today in the Korea Times alone, expect blog spamage!