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[glowdart]

I think there may have, once upon a time, before the Internet and search engines, when something like "Who's Who" might have been useful.

I don't see the value now.

Yes, because it was a sort of Social Register for academics.  But then, I always saw the whole enterprise (Who's Who High School, etc.) as a potentially more inclusive and yet definitely more defensive middle-class attempt to counter the Society Register.  (And no, I have absolutely no research to back this up, so don't ask, and take it for what it is - an educated hunch.)

[lyndonparker]

During the 1980s, I remember using a copy of Who's Who to locate addresses and other information (degrees, I think) regarding people. Before the Internet this was useful--now, not so much.

[mickeymantle]

I got into the original Who's Who many years ago.  But then they started plugging me into their "other" volumes, and I gave up on the idea.  Your work can speak more than some reference in a huge volume that no one really reads anymore.

[spinnaker]

I think there may have, once upon a time, before the Internet and search engines, when something like "Who's Who" might have been useful.

I don't see the value now.

Yes, because it was a sort of Social Register for academics.  But then, I always saw the whole enterprise (Who's Who High School, etc.) as a potentially more inclusive and yet definitely more defensive middle-class attempt to counter the Society Register.  (And no, I have absolutely no research to back this up, so don't ask, and take it for what it is - an educated hunch.)

"I have a mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it."

-Groucho

[lotsoquestions]

My university (Not Particularly Good University, or NPGU for short) makes a big deal about nominating students for this.  I've often wondered how I might convey to them that it's not actually a serious award.  (We also send people to the Oxford Roundtable, bwah ha ha).  I'd appreciate any other articles like the Forbes article that I might enclose along with my mandatory student nomination form next year.

[spinnaker]

My university (Not Particularly Good University, or NPGU for short) makes a big deal about nominating students for this.  I've often wondered how I might convey to them that it's not actually a serious award.  (We also send people to the Oxford Roundtable, bwah ha ha).  I'd appreciate any other articles like the Forbes article that I might enclose along with my mandatory student nomination form next year.

Either I'm overly cynical, or this is a smoking gun. Suppose you don't know any noteworthy people who are not already in the book?

[tee_bee]

My university (Not Particularly Good University, or NPGU for short) makes a big deal about nominating students for this.  I've often wondered how I might convey to them that it's not actually a serious award.  (We also send people to the Oxford Roundtable, bwah ha ha).  I'd appreciate any other articles like the Forbes article that I might enclose along with my mandatory student nomination form next year.

Just forward someone a link to this thread. Then, it's either fireworks...or crickets. It will be amusing either way.

[spinnaker]

My university (Not Particularly Good University, or NPGU for short) makes a big deal about nominating students for this.  I've often wondered how I might convey to them that it's not actually a serious award.  (We also send people to the Oxford Roundtable, bwah ha ha).  I'd appreciate any other articles like the Forbes article that I might enclose along with my mandatory student nomination form next year.

Just forward someone a link to this thread. Then, it's either fireworks...or crickets. It will be amusing either way.

Perhaps I will nominate Tucker Carlson, author of the Forbes article. He deserves wider recognition.

[mystictechgal]

My university (Not Particularly Good University, or NPGU for short) makes a big deal about nominating students for this.  I've often wondered how I might convey to them that it's not actually a serious award.  (We also send people to the Oxford Roundtable, bwah ha ha).  I'd appreciate any other articles like the Forbes article that I might enclose along with my mandatory student nomination form next year.

Either I'm overly cynical, or this is a smoking gun. Suppose you don't know any noteworthy people who are not already in the book?

At my small university (used to be SLAC) they do the same thing. As a matter of fact, the announcement of congratulations due was sent out, campus-wide, two days ago. In answer to your question, the students nominated must be Seniors in rank (although, we don't officially use those terms). As part of the "honor" has to do with their scholarship it's doubtful that any of them are in danger of not graduating*, so the likelihood of their already being in the book is close to nil.


* I suppose it could happen. I technically hold Senior rank, and was nominated (I turned it down and refused to submit paperwork that would have allowed it to progress), but as I've changed my majors I'm not in danger of graduating anytime soon.