Conning Harvard: The True Story Of The Con Artist Who Faked His Way Into The Ivy League - Softcover

Zauzmer, Julie; Yu, Xi

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0762786760 ISBN 13: 9780762786763

Publisher: Lyons Press, 2013

Synopsis

In 2011 a 24-year-old man pled guilty to falsifying his application to Harvard University, bilking the world’s most prestigious university out of more than $45,000 in prizes and scholarships. Using forged SAT scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, Adam Wheeler outsmarted Harvard's admissions office and then went even further. Once accepted into the Ivy League he kept lying, cheating, and succeeding, winning thousands of dollars in prizes and grants. But then he shot too far. During his senior year, Wheeler applied for Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, a gamble that finally exposed his extensive tangle of lies. Alerted that he was under suspicion, Wheeler fled Harvard but did not stop. He successfully filed more fraudulent applications at top-tier schools across the country, until some vigilant admissions officers, Massachusetts police, and even his own parents forced him off his computer and into court. As reporters for The Harvard Crimson, Julie Zauzmer and Xi Yu covered the case from the moment the news of Wheeler’s indictment broke. In the course of their reporting, they interviewed dozens of friends, roommates, teachers, and advisors who knew Wheeler at the many phases of his suspect academic career. Their fascinating account reveals how one serial scammer took on the competitive world of the Ivy League—and almost won. 

About this title

About the Author

Julie M. Zauzmer is a Harvard College senior who began covering the Wheeler story as a beat reporter on The Harvard Crimson two years ago. She is currently the managing editor of The Crimson. As an aspiring journalist from Pennsylvania, Julie has served as an intern at the daily newspaper The Philadelphia Bulletin and at Philly.com, the website of Philadelphia’s two most prominent newspapers. During the year 2008, she created and recorded a weekly podcast called 52 Ways to Change the World!, which shared fun, quick, and easy ways for listeners to make a difference in daily life. Her podcast, which remains available on iTunes and at www.52ways.org, has currently been downloaded over 50,000 times.

From the Back Cover

Adam Wheeler's plan was as audacious as it was illegal: He gained admission to Harvardthrough fraud. While countless students dreaming of an Ivy League education compete honestly, Wheeler resorted to faking SAT scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Andafter he enrolled at Harvard, Wheeler plagiarized his classwork and bilked the university out ofthousands of dollars in prizes and grants. But then he shot too far. He applied for nomination to the illustrious Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, and that gamble finally exposed his academic fraud. Alerted that he was under suspicion, Wheeler fled Harvard but did not stop trying to scam universities. He filed more phony applications to top-tier schools until vigilant college administrators and eventually the police forced him off his computer and into court, thereby bringing to light his astonishing tangle of lies. As a reporter for The Harvard Crimson, Julie Zauzmer covered the case from the momentthe news of Wheeler's indictment broke. She interviewed dozens of friends and teachers whoknew Wheeler throughout his suspect academic career and dug through records to expose evenmore instances of deception. This fascinating account reveals how one plagiarist took on the IvyLeague--and almost won.

From the Inside Flap

Adam Wheeler’s plan was as audacious as it was illegal: He gained admission to Harvard

through fraud. While countless students dreaming of an Ivy League education compete honestly,

Wheeler resorted to faking SAT scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. And

after he enrolled at Harvard, Wheeler plagiarized his classwork and bilked the university out of

thousands of dollars in prizes and grants. But then he shot too far. He applied for nomination to the illustrious Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, and that gamble finally exposed his academic fraud. Alerted that he was under suspicion, Wheeler fled Harvard but did not stop trying to scam universities. He filed more phony applications to top-tier schools until vigilant college administrators and eventually the police forced him off his computer and into court, thereby bringing to light his astonishing tangle of lies.

 

As a reporter for The Harvard Crimson, Julie Zauzmer covered the case from the moment

the news of Wheeler’s indictment broke. She interviewed dozens of friends and teachers who

knew Wheeler throughout his suspect academic career and dug through records to expose even

more instances of deception. This fascinating account reveals how one plagiarist took on the Ivy

League—and almost won.

 

Edition details

• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0762786760
• ISBN 13: 9780762786763
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240