Who's Who Among American High School Students - Criticism

Criticism

There was much debate over the value of the book. Although it does not cost any money to be listed, it is often categorized as a scam since it is an attempt by a private company to make money through proud parents and students who purchase the book and various memorabilia (such as a "commemorative keychain") associated with the publication in attempt at recognition. There have been concerns about how students are nominated as well as whether the listing's entries are fact-checked and accurate

The focus of another criticism was the fact of some students being excluded, apparently based on highly random or subjective factors, while others were included. In contrast to such things as academic, athletic, artistic or citizenship awards, which are based at least partly on demonstrable merit, these vanity publications seemed highly influenced by biased recommendations or even imaginary achievements.

Students consent to being listed in Who's Who in the hope that this listing will be seen by college admissions offices as a significant recognition of a student's academic and extracurricular involvement. However, most admissions officers believe that the recognition has no such value and in fact some consider the "honor" to be a joke. For instance, according to the admissions vice president of Hamline University, "It's honestly something that an admissions officer typically wouldn't consider or wouldn't play into an admissions decision," adding that Who's Who... is just trying to sell books.

In the late 1970s the Fairfax High School (Fairfax VA) newspaper staff notified the school administration that they were submitting a false nomination to "Who's Who". They requested that if the publication contacted the school, it should be stated that the nomination was fake, and submitted as a joke. The fake student's listing appeared in that year's "Who's Who", without any attempt to verify the biography. The story was covered in the student newspaper that spring.