From the comments on my last post — friend of the blog (and Sloan-C Karoake instigator) Michael Berman lets us know he got some bad news about the Udacity certificate he earned in 2012.
Please note this is a real email, from “Amanda Sparr, Coach @Udacity”. This is not a parody. (Really!)
Dear Michael,
Nice work on earning a certificate for the Intro to Computer Science courseware. It speaks volumes for what you learned while completing this rigorous course. Congrats again!
Today we upgraded this course . This brings you new opportunities, for little extra work:
- You can now practice and show off your skills, with a new hands-on project where you’ll build a social network.
- You can also earn a Verified Certificate, since this course now has a subscription option.
Udacious Coaches like me work with you and award these Verified Certificates. We review your project code, share feedback and tips, and conduct a final video interview where we verify your identity. With these steps, employers see our Verified Certificates as an even stronger endorsement of your skills.
To get you started here’s a 20% discount*: Udacity.com/IntroCS?coupon=UMxYBAx22T1JKx6.
Oh my. I don’t know where to start. The fact that the “magic formula” involves personal tutors and graders? The line “Udacious coaches like me….”?
But of course the kicker is the business model: hey, we know you earned this certificate, but it’s kind of worthless now that we only do Verified Certificates. But, look, for a low, low fee you can earn it again. For real this time!
I never realized the answer to the college cost crisis was right in front of us all the time. We just need to downgrade everyone’s degrees, then let them know for a low, low price and a short trip to a testing center we will continue to verify their diploma. Instant cash flow! And accountability!
Oh, man. You really can’t make this crap up.
Hapgood 
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