I’m not sure it belongs on this subforum, but I thought I’d give it a try. The Netflix documentary about the college admissions scandal just came out. I watched it last night and … wow… Even though I’d followed these developments in the news and was aware of most of the facts, watching it unfolding was an entirely different experience. Was curious if others have watched it and what the responses were. While the scale of cynicism and deceit is mind-boggling, for some reason what affected me the most were the clips from the videos of high school seniors crying when rejected or deferred at their “dream” schools. It just broke my heart (and felt wrong that they had so much emotional stake put into this idea of a dream college, which is a very problematic concept). Also, felt really sorry for the Stanford sailing coach…(I apologize if this thread already exists, but I couldn’t find one).
I agree about watching those videos of acceptances and rejections, sometimes with a large group. So much pressure. It’s about the 4 year experience, wherever you are, and not that moment. That moment means nothing as to the value of who you are.
What I noticed again and again was the attitude that getting caught was the concern, not morality. Those phone calls during which various people expressed concerns about what they were getting into, were only about whether they would get in trouble, not about whether what they were doing was right.
Agree about the sailing coach. At least is was made clear that the money he made (via “donation”) went to the program and not himself. Most of his phone calls with Singer were okay but that last one made it clear he was accepting non-sailors. Seemed like a nice, if naive, guy and hope the university looks at better funding for those smaller sports.
being a senior and going through the experience currently… it is truly shameful what went down with some of these prestigious institutions. It is sad what happened with the sailing coach at Stanford but I looked it up and he has a job now - which is good. i knew about the scandal but this really put it into perspective and it really was a great watch!
The entire thing disgusts me so much that I don’t think I can bring myself to watch the movie. When the scandal first broke, I thought how ironic it was that the only thing that the parents had done wrong was bribe the wrong people. If they had simply bribed the colleges directly, their children would have gone into the “big donor” category, and had improved chances of admission.
One thing I gleaned from the documentary was that apparently the donation “back door” involves a LOT more money than Singers “side door.” The donation route also does not involve false test scores and fake athletic photos. One hopes that anyone getting in via donations through the “back door” are at least qualified, but who knows.
I watched it last night. It was pretty disgusting to hear/see the wire tap conversations play out.
And yea, the rejection video montage was sad. There is so much pressure on these kids and growing up with every event, good or bad, documented on social media just adds to it.
I’m grateful that my teens are pretty nonchalant when it comes to the college admissions rat race and are social media adverse (other then sharing dumb memes and gifs lol)
I really enjoyed it too. It really struck me that celebrity and the wealthy, who have unlimited means STILL had to lie and cheat to get their kids admitted.
Reading this site, I have become quite aware that many institutions are need aware, and will take a kid who can full pay over one who cannot. Is what these parents did any worse than what is already going on, where privilege and money are already tipping the scales?
Yes.
I understood this as well. Direct donations to universities needed to be in the tens of millions of dollars to move the needle. Singer’s method cost less than a million depending on the university and was guaranteed admission, albeit through illegal means.
It was disgusting how these parents talk about their kids, the one mom basically calling her older daughter dumb. Some of the kids were definitely in on the scam and had no problems lying and scamming just like the parents.
Why are these college acceptance videos a thing?
I watched it and I thought they did a good job with the story, framing it in a larger context and the reenactments didn’t look cheesy. It was a lot like one of the seasons of the podcast “Gangster Capitalism,” which focused on Singer and the wire tap conversations. I think that was even their footage of him shirtless at his car after working out.
Yes, I agree, it was both weirdly enjoyable and disgusting at the same time. Well done overall, I thought. I also enjoyed the interviews with college counselors, journalists, etc., who indeed put this obsession with prestige into a perspective. I’m glad to hear that high schoolers, like @samphil098, are finding this film helpful.
And yes, the situation with the Stanford coach wasn’t entirely clear. He seemed to imply being completely unaware of what was going on, but his last conversation with Singer and his guilty plea suggest that he might have known something. In any case, he seemed like a genuine guy who was manipulated, so it was nice to hear he didn’t get any prison term and now has a job and is doing OK. What a mess…
And the whole systemic social problem with inequality is already covered well in previous comments.
The Singer cheating method involved much less money. Perhaps that made it more affordable to the lower upper class who has less money than the upper upper class that can pull donations that build buildings out of their pocket change.
The top 0.1% net worth may not be able to afford to donate a building to a college that the top 0.01% net worth can.
I think Stanford and USC come off looking very bad. Stanford kept them money and gave it to ‘charities’ but no record of who or where. USC? I think they just kept it all. The main players are still not in jail and still haven’t had to give back any money.
I don’t like that they let Singer be a cooperator and had him set up the others in a sting operation. Usually conspiracies are directed to get the head people, but the FBI HAD the head, Singer, and probably had enough on the coaches and athletic directors without making a deal with Singer. He should have paid the biggest price and it looks like he won’t.
I also wondered about the deal with Singer. The others so far didn’t get much but hopefully ruined reputations.
I watched this show as well. I was wondering how it was allowed to happen & did not raise red flags that kids were taking the ACT/SAT by themselves with a proctor flying around to administer the tests? I mean the tests are only given on specific days at specific locations - so how did this occur? I didn’t understand that part. Didn’t the testing companies think something was up - especially if in these cases it was always students who were given extra time & ended up with high scores in the end. There had to be more people in on the scam.
This explains how that happened
ACT/SAT testing are raking in the money for basically doing nothing. They get the $$ if the student takes it in a big hs room or in a testing center. They get it if a testing site disallows a big group of exams because of a suspicion of cheating (and everyone has to take it again - more money!).
I’m glad to see ACT/SAT gone (as I think it will be). One thing I thought was good about the documentary was the college counselors saying how unfair the tests were, that wealthier people have a big advantage with being able to pay for tutoring, testing to get extra time, special conditions for taking the exam, taking the exam 7 times. This documentary did show how easy it was to manipulate the system.
Yes, I was also wondering why it was always one student taking the test–couldn’t there be more students with disabilities (real or fake) who needed the test on the same day in the same area? But I guess Singer knew what he was doing… Sigh…