> I have no idea what mechanism a faculty member would use to charge a highschool student. But I think that's rather unethical and useless. Finances of labs are such that this money is worthless.

The faculty member is keeping the money for themselves. Some might call it a bribe.

It's unethical (and possibly worse) but it is happening. The students themselves aren't doing actual research, they're given busywork because it's understood to be resume padding.

> But guess how you get in? With connections.

Over time, "connections" degrade into kickbacks and corruption. My point is that these lab positions are going to be meaningless in a decade due to bribery.

It will be similar to how every student at top high schools is an executive in a club because those schools have fake clubs that don't meet or do anything.