United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

RBA · 01-12-2006, 01:35 PM

We got a letter in the mail (through the school) that my 7th grader was one of the "few" recognized by USAA for Excellence in Social Studies and eligible to apply for one of their scholarships. Also they would do a press release with the local paper and his profile would be included in a yearbook. The catch is we have to pay for the yearbook and also we could get family members (grandma, aunts, etc) to buy it too.

My son was excited to "be selected". Apparently local teachers submit names around the country.

I'm skeptical about these things and I recognize it as a scam. Has anyone else gotten one of these letters and do you think it's in bad taste to prey on children and parents emotions of winning something "pretigious" when it really a marketing scam?

USAA is not affliated with the insurance/bank out of San Antonio. This USAA is set up out of Lexington, KY.

Blimpie · 01-12-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBloodedAmerican

We got a letter in the mail (through the school) that my 7th grader was one of the "few" recognized by USAA for Excellence in Social Studies and eligible to apply for one of their scholarships. Also they would do a press release with the local paper and his profile would be included in a yearbook. The catch is we have to pay for the yearbook and also we could get family members (grandma, aunts, etc) to buy it too.

My son was excited to "be selected". Apparently local teachers submit names around the country.

I'm skeptical about these things and I recognize it as a scam. Has anyone else gotten one of these letters and do you think it's in bad taste to prey on children and parents emotions of winning something "pretigious" when it really a marketing scam?

USAA is not affliated with the insurance/bank out of San Antonio. This USAA is set up out of Lexington, KY.

Rats! Sounds like the jig is up...time for me to pack up the kids again and hit the road

Sean_CaseyRules · 01-12-2006, 01:47 PM

Well I got a similar letter, but I was chosen to be a child Ambassador, and travel Europe and have a chance to go to Japan. I didn't get to go because my mom and dad, just as RBA, we're skeptical about sending me away.

Chip R · 01-12-2006, 01:56 PM

Sounds sort of like the First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence. You'll know it's the real thing if Joe Frazier shows up to present the award.

deltachi8 · 01-12-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip R

Sounds sort of like the First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence. You'll know it's the real thing if Joe Frazier shows up to present the award.

You beat me to it! Thats what i thought as well.

Sounds like the who's-who thing where you have to pay to get in the directory..IIRC.

Unassisted · 01-12-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltachi8

Sounds like the who's-who thing where you have to pay to get in the directory..IIRC.

This is what I was thinking, too.

Roy Tucker · 01-12-2006, 03:09 PM

My son (and now recently my daughter) has gotten a ton of these. They are not scams per se but they also aren't like being a National Merit Scholar or anything. It's more of a vanity press thing.

Basically, they hand out scholarships that are funded by the sales of the yearbooks, patches, and other paraphenalia that they sell. And I'm sure the owners skim off their fair share.

But they are legit businesses from the standpoint that they tell you clearly what you get for your money. Which is a 3-5 line entry in a book they publish and sell to people who paid to have entries in the book (he said redundantly).

RFS62 · 01-12-2006, 05:02 PM

I was a Little Lebowski Junior Achiever.

Caveat Emperor · 01-12-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFS62

I was a Little Lebowski Junior Achiever.

LawFive · 01-12-2006, 06:55 PM

I recieved one of those once. One of my senior year teachers nominated every single one of his students. Wonder what he got out of the deal...

deltachi8 · 01-12-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LawFive

I recieved one of those once. One of my senior year teachers nominated every single one of his students. Wonder what he got out of the deal...

A laurel and hearty handshake

Hap · 01-13-2006, 02:05 PM

I applied for dozens and dozens of scholarships and not once did I have to pay a single penny or purchase anything.

Caseyfan21 · 01-12-2006, 06:56 PM

I love these types of achievements one can get if they are willing to fork over the cash necessary. One girl from my high school had a big feature in the local paper because she was selected to go study abroad for something. Turns out she was selected but she also had to fork over a wad of cash to do it. I've never done any of those things I got growing up and I turned out ok (even got quite a few legitimate ones too).

Dom Heffner · 01-12-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

I love these types of achievements one can get if they are willing to fork over the cash necessary.

I remember getting an offer letter in college from the National Collegiate Scholars or something like that.

They told me they only invite people in who are in the top 10% of their class.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I'm in the top 10% of my class, regardless of whether I get "accepted" with this group or not.

01-12-2006, 01:35 PM	#1
RBA CELEBRATION TIME Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 13,940	United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) We got a letter in the mail (through the school) that my 7th grader was one of the "few" recognized by USAA for Excellence in Social Studies and eligible to apply for one of their scholarships. Also they would do a press release with the local paper and his profile would be included in a yearbook. The catch is we have to pay for the yearbook and also we could get family members (grandma, aunts, etc) to buy it too. My son was excited to "be selected". Apparently local teachers submit names around the country. I'm skeptical about these things and I recognize it as a scam. Has anyone else gotten one of these letters and do you think it's in bad taste to prey on children and parents emotions of winning something "pretigious" when it really a marketing scam? USAA is not affliated with the insurance/bank out of San Antonio. This USAA is set up out of Lexington, KY.

01-12-2006, 01:47 PM	#3
Sean_CaseyRules Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Back in the Burg, Ohio. Posts: 1,330	Re: United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) Well I got a similar letter, but I was chosen to be a child Ambassador, and travel Europe and have a chance to go to Japan. I didn't get to go because my mom and dad, just as RBA, we're skeptical about sending me away. __________________ Let's make some noise!

01-12-2006, 01:56 PM	#4
Chip R Rally Onion! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 33,227	Re: United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) Sounds sort of like the First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence. You'll know it's the real thing if Joe Frazier shows up to present the award. __________________ The Rally Onion wants 150 fans before Opening Day. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rally-...24872650873160

01-12-2006, 03:09 PM	#7
Roy Tucker Be the ball Join Date: May 2001 Location: Mason, OH Posts: 11,131	Re: United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) My son (and now recently my daughter) has gotten a ton of these. They are not scams per se but they also aren't like being a National Merit Scholar or anything. It's more of a vanity press thing. Basically, they hand out scholarships that are funded by the sales of the yearbooks, patches, and other paraphenalia that they sell. And I'm sure the owners skim off their fair share. But they are legit businesses from the standpoint that they tell you clearly what you get for your money. Which is a 3-5 line entry in a book they publish and sell to people who paid to have entries in the book (he said redundantly). __________________ The motel of lost companions Waits with heated pool and bar

01-12-2006, 05:02 PM	#8
RFS62 Hey Cubs Fans Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New York Posts: 16,567	Re: United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) I was a Little Lebowski Junior Achiever. __________________ "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

01-12-2006, 06:55 PM	#10
LawFive Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Eastern Suburbia Posts: 533	Re: United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) I recieved one of those once. One of my senior year teachers nominated every single one of his students. Wonder what he got out of the deal... __________________ The seven most magic words in all the land... "If, in the opinion of the referee,..."

01-13-2006, 02:05 PM	#12
Hap Plays The Right Way Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 796.357 Posts: 1,676	Re: United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) I applied for dozens and dozens of scholarships and not once did I have to pay a single penny or purchase anything. __________________ .

01-12-2006, 06:56 PM	#13
Caseyfan21 Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 1,830	Re: United States Achievement Academy (Scam???) I love these types of achievements one can get if they are willing to fork over the cash necessary. One girl from my high school had a big feature in the local paper because she was selected to go study abroad for something. Turns out she was selected but she also had to fork over a wad of cash to do it. I've never done any of those things I got growing up and I turned out ok (even got quite a few legitimate ones too).

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