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I am involved with a startup working on this problem (http://GuruFi.com http://GuruFi.com). Fundamentally this problem is derives from the fact that it is diff
by thefool 16y ago
I am involved with a startup working on this problem (http://GuruFi.com http://GuruFi.com).
Fundamentally this problem is derives from the fact that it is difficult for people to learn how to write and structure their ideas. Hell thats basically the whole point of PhD programs, and people spend years finishing them.
With the internet, it becomes really easy to just pay someone else who already knows how to write to do the work for you.
The only real solution to this that I see is to make these services legitimate as a teaching outlet rather than as a cheating outlet. Force people to write a draft. In editing, don't rewrite, just comment and give people feedback as to how they can improve the structure of their document. In general have the people feel that they are getting taught rather than just getting a product.
My hope is that creating a legitimate service will encroach the market people like this target, and will actually force students to learn something through their writing assignments.
- rick_2047 16y agoI don't think getting writers only from the top 20 uni will work. I wouldn't like my high school paper to be edited by a grad student at an Ivey League college
- thefool 16y agoThis is something we are doing just in the beginning to build credibility. Once we are a little more established we plan on being less selective with our editors and letting the market decide who the great people are.
- rick_2047 16y agoThe best people to do this work will be someone who has just passed (or is working on) a level high than that. A high school lab report can be much better drafted by a undergrad freshmen than a grad student as he has done this recently and is much more connected with it while the grad student has elevated in terms of language and lowest common denominator of knowledge in any subject. They also tend to forget the basics somehow.
- thefool 16y agoI agree completely. For this reason, there are undergraduate students, grad students, and professionals on the site. We simply require that they attend a top 20 school at this point. This is mostly so that customers know that all editors meet that baseline measure of credibility (i.e. they made it through the same process that the applicant is pursuing, and thus probably know what it takes).
- rick_2047 16y agoUmm.. I don't think they need to meet that baseline measure of credibility. What about a home schooled kid who made it into one of those colleges?
- jorleif 16y agoThis seems like a great service. The world is moving more and more towards using English as a universal language, and I think that plenty of non-native speakers are at a disadvantage, because they cannot communicate their ideas well enough. For example, of the best-selling business authors, how many are non-native English speakers? I bet not that many. That means that English speakers have a disproportionate influence.
- lurker14 16y agoIt looks more like an essay-writing service than a educational service to me. Two of the reviews of the #1 "Editor/Tutor" http://www.gurufi.com/editor/brian http://www.gurufi.com/editor/brian, don't seems to reflect students who learned anything about writing their own coherent sentences: * "He knows what I want to say more than I do. Thank you for your clear and professional writing. " * "It was the second to have you edit my article, and it was also the second to feel so surprised when I read it! Thank you!" The #2 "editor" has a similarly uninspiring review: *"Simply, Josh is a perfect. I got revision from him until I satisfied. I'm so happy with his revision. Additionally, his comments are very constructive to me. I learned about writing SoP from him. Thanks a lot Josh. " About three-quarters of the reviews seem generically unoffensive, but many of them are cause for concern.