5 things to know about the college admissions scandal
Review some of the highlights from the college admissions scandal. Then answer the questions at the end to continue the discussion with your students.
1. "Varsity Blues" refers to t
he biggest college admissions
scam
ever
prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department.
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(Watch the first 2-mins for a recap of the scam. If time, watch the interview with Jeffrey Selingo, "There is Life After College," who discusses the scandal in more detail and the college admissions process.
Federal prosecutors arrested and charged 50 people na
tionwide for participating in a bribery and cheating scam to get students into
elite schools.
In the investigation known as Varsity Blues,
prosecutors found that parents paid admissions consultant
William “Rick” Singer,
to bribe
proctors
to alter standardized tests, pay
coaches
to recruit athletes, some of whom never played the sport they were being recruited for and lie to administrators about
disabilities
, so that students received extra time to take tests.
2. "This is straight out bribery," author Daniel Golden tells PBS NewsHour on how the scheme showcases a college admissions system that has been wrought with problems for decades.
Prosecutors say Singer paid
25 million
in bribes to athletic coaches and others to pretend to recruit students. In some cases students faces were
photoshopped
onto the bodies of real athletes.
Proctors
were also paid to correct students answers on standardized including test like the SAT and ACT or allow them extra time to finish their test.
3 . Wealthy parents including celebrities and a fashion designer, prominent attorneys and
CEOs have been charged in the scam.
Officials said wealthy parents paid
$200,000 to $6.5 million
to guarantee their children’s admission. According to court documents, Huffman paid $
15,000
to get her daughter into a elite school. Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives and Lori Loughlin of Fuller house, were both
arrested
on March 12. Click
here
to read the Actress responses to the allegations.
4 Federal prosecutors announced that 50 people are facing
charges
in connection to the admissions scandal
At least
33
Parents are being charged with
conspiracy
to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Richard Singer who
cooperated
with investigators plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy. At least
nine
coached from elite schools were also charged. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling announced the charges In this live press conference on March 12.
5 the announcement of the Admissions scandal sparked
outrage
from students.
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Students have expressed their frustration with the college system since learning
that children of the super wealthy cheated their way in to ultra selective schools like
Yale
and University of Southern California . Some students have also filed a
lawsuit
against the elite schools. In this segment of Making the Grade students discuss their disappointment.
