(Source: abc.go.com)ABC's new reality series, "The Scholar," debuted last Monday. The show, in which 10 kids battle for a "full-ride" college scholarship, is supposed to give an inside look at the college admissions process. Judging the contestants is a panel of three admissions officers: One we know is from UC-Berkeley, while the other two are identified only as representatives of the Ivy League (but we know they're from Columbia).



The first episode, of course, introduced us to the contestants. Not surprisingly, they're racially, ethnically and geographically diverse. One is home-schooled, another is portrayed as a pompous ass, and some are rather reserved. Most get along, though personalities are already beginning to clash, especially as they realize they're in a competition.

For their first task, the contestants were divided into two groups and given brain teasers to solve. accuracy counted, as did speed. The winning team's captain (determined by a quiz on U.S. space history) would face off against two team members in a competition (this time, on American literature) to determine who would receive a $50,000 scholarship and a trip to the final round. The pompous kid lost because he couldn't name the author of Gone With the Wind (A: Margaret Mitchell). To be honest, the literature questions were rather easy.

A few aspects of the show struck me as odd. First, the admissions tribunal appeared stiff, smug and condescending, particularly during the three-on-one interviews with each contestant. Admissions folks I've known are nothing like that, even in the Ivy League. Second, the kids seem to believe this competition---that is, getting the money---is their only chance to grab the brass ring. Truth is, if they're so academically qualified and come from modest means, financial aid will make their college dreams possible. Most of them are aiming for the Ivies, which are fairly generous with aid packages. Other colleges could perhaps offer substantial merit awards. They don't "need" the full-ride scholarship, but I imagine they want it. And third, the show doesn't appear to follow the traditional reality-show format of eliminating contestants. Everyone sticks around until the end, though only some will contend for the title.

So what does "The Scholar" tell us about the college admissions process? Thus far, about as much as "The Apprentice" tells us about working in the corporate world.