Look what the cat dragged in….a high school diploma? Yep, little Oreo the cat from Macon, Georgia got her diploma from Jefferson High School Online. Oreo was part of a sting operation by the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia, designed to expose phony “diploma mills” that have popped up all over the internet. These sites give people “diplomas” if they answer a few questions and write a short essay, and fork over $200 dollars. There are no correct answers, no one reads the essay, the computer simply generates a fake diploma once a credit card number has been provided.
Oreo’s adoptive father Kelvin Collins asked Oreo if she would participate in the sting operation to which she answered with a simple “meow.” Sweeter words have never been meowed.
Oreo sat on Kelvin’s lap as he typed the answers and the “life experience” essay as Oreo dictated to him, “Meow meow meow….meeeeeeeeeoooooooooowwww…(Oreo’s licks his paw)….hisss…..meow.” Collins did not disclose the essays contents but many have speculated it discusses the hardships Oreo went through when she got worms as a kitten. Or maybe it was about her addiction and recovery from catnip. That Oreo is a real survivor.
We’re onto you Jefferson High School Online. The cat’s out of the bag. (Sorry I just couldn’t resist).
“The GED Tests cannot be taken online,” GED Testing spokesperson Cassandra M. Brown told msnbc.com. “They are only available for in-person testing at an Official GED Testing Center.” Brown said via e-mail that the GED Testing Service, a Program of the American Council on Education, has issued warnings about programs like Jefferson High School Online.
Ok seriously though, even though this story is straight hilarium 2009, DO NOT believe any website that tells you they can give you a diploma without actually doing any work. For real colleges classes and programs visit My Colleges and Careers.
Very helpful article as there are lot of fake diploma mills out there.