Yogurt
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Post by Yogurt on Mar 12, 2019 17:40:39 GMT -6
I can't believe USD (Univ of San Diego) is one of the schools people cheated to get into. I did not get in to that school. WAITLISTED. ETA I had way higher than 1000 on my SATs too! And it was the 90s! Wtf USD?
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Post by shan-ah-doo on Mar 12, 2019 17:42:59 GMT -6
Looks like Auntie Beck made her IG private.
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soup
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Post by soup on Mar 12, 2019 17:43:23 GMT -6
This all makes me feel good about signing up my five-year-old for classes to teach her to read before she starts kindergarten in the fall.
The $65 I will pay for an hour now will save me from fraud in the future.
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thatgolfb
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Post by thatgolfb on Mar 12, 2019 17:54:31 GMT -6
Lol not even USC, USD which is, AFAIK, much less prestigious. My MIL is going to fight you. It is a lovely school and it is hard to beat that view! But seriously I didn’t know USD was pay-fraud-money in demand.
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drr
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Post by drr on Mar 12, 2019 18:18:41 GMT -6
Here, every high school junior takes the ACT. We give it at school for free. A 33 will get you a full ride to Auburn. It used to be a 32 but they recently raised it because AP kids are cut throat and will do anything for a full ride. They pay $100/hr for ACT tutors and take that test as many times as it takes. So many kids were getting 32s that Auburn raised the requirement. For some, a scholarship is a status symbol. For others, it’s a true need. It’s an upper middle class high school, but only a few of them are truly loaded. ETA: do not skin suit! random off topic- but one of the best undergrads that I ever had went to high school in Auburn. She was better than some of my grad students
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mb3
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Post by mb3 on Mar 12, 2019 18:19:27 GMT -6
I was surprised by that one too. Is that a public UC school or private like USC? I assume private? It's a private Jesuit school that is easier to get into than SDSU (the Cal State school). I mean, I literally know people that didn't even have a 1000 on the SAT that went there (granted this was in the 1990s). Catholic, not Jesuit. 😉
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smilesp
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Post by smilesp on Mar 12, 2019 18:20:39 GMT -6
So I’m assuming these admissions are being retracted? I haven’t seen anything about it though.
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maybe
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Post by maybe on Mar 12, 2019 18:24:59 GMT -6
I have cracked a lot of jokes about all of this today but deep down I am really furious. White ppl are never questioned about their place in these schools and how they got in but every black/Latino person is assumed to be a charity case that only got in due to race. I think if I had known how many of my college peers were legacies or had donated buildings to get in I would have been devastated. This is showing my age but a high school classmate of mine had her application professionally formatted while my mom had paid her Secretary extra to type my essays and I remember being so sad and dejected by that level of privilege. I was so naive!
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maybe
Sapphire
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Post by maybe on Mar 12, 2019 18:26:07 GMT -6
So I’m assuming these admissions are being retracted? I haven’t seen anything about it though. I am annoyed that the students are being treated as innocent kids when some of them were probably 18 when this was all happening.
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drr
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Post by drr on Mar 12, 2019 18:29:18 GMT -6
So I’m assuming these admissions are being retracted? I haven’t seen anything about it though. I'm really curious to see how this plays out. I'm wondering if the students who are already in and taking classes will remain (especially if they'e doing well in their classes).
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maybe
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Post by maybe on Mar 12, 2019 18:45:26 GMT -6
So I’m assuming these admissions are being retracted? I haven’t seen anything about it though. I'm really curious to see how this plays out. I'm wondering if the students who are already in and taking classes will remain (especially if they'e doing well in their classes). I suspect that unless there is proof they were in on the fraud they will be allowed to stay. In some of these cases the schools had staff members on the take so that may also complicate things for them.
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Jesslfar
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Post by Jesslfar on Mar 12, 2019 18:48:01 GMT -6
So I’m assuming these admissions are being retracted? I haven’t seen anything about it though. I am annoyed that the students are being treated as innocent kids when some of them were probably 18 when this was all happening. The ones accepted for sports knew what was up. They had to maintain the lie. Maybe these kids didn't know they were committing mail fraud but they knew they were committing crimes and at 17 or 18 they were not innocent or that naive.
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drr
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Post by drr on Mar 12, 2019 18:57:39 GMT -6
I'm really curious to see how this plays out. I'm wondering if the students who are already in and taking classes will remain (especially if they'e doing well in their classes). I suspect that unless there is proof they were in on the fraud they will be allowed to stay. In some of these cases the schools had staff members on the take so that may also complicate things for them. Definitely My husband was lamenting all of this at dinner, and his prediction is the only people who will truly suffer the consequences will be the university officials who took the bribes.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Mar 12, 2019 19:07:55 GMT -6
Here, every high school junior takes the ACT. We give it at school for free. A 33 will get you a full ride to Auburn. It used to be a 32 but they recently raised it because AP kids are cut throat and will do anything for a full ride. They pay $100/hr for ACT tutors and take that test as many times as it takes. So many kids were getting 32s that Auburn raised the requirement. For some, a scholarship is a status symbol. For others, it’s a true need. It’s an upper middle class high school, but only a few of them are truly loaded. ETA: do not skin suit! Fuck me, I should have gone to Auburn.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Mar 12, 2019 19:11:43 GMT -6
I am annoyed that the students are being treated as innocent kids when some of them were probably 18 when this was all happening. The ones accepted for sports knew what was up. They had to maintain the lie. Maybe these kids didn't know they were committing mail fraud but they knew they were committing crimes and at 17 or 18 they were not innocent or that naive. Yes, assuming they even knew that was going on. Not like someone couldn't have signed everything for them. The coaches had to do a good bit of hiding to hide the kid of a celeb coming to their team.
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ripper
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Post by ripper on Mar 12, 2019 19:13:37 GMT -6
oh, is this the part where we through down our scores. I no care and/or I don't believe you. Lol @ “through” instead of “throw”. Luckily, I did not have to SAT.
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Mar 12, 2019 19:31:50 GMT -6
The ones accepted for sports knew what was up. They had to maintain the lie. Maybe these kids didn't know they were committing mail fraud but they knew they were committing crimes and at 17 or 18 they were not innocent or that naive. Yes, assuming they even knew that was going on. Not like someone couldn't have signed everything for them. The coaches had to do a good bit of hiding to hide the kid of a celeb coming to their team. NPR was reporting that in some cases, the ringleader posed students in athletic uniforms in fraudulent action photos. Which is just... wow. (Sometimes he just photoshopped their faces on stock sports photos found online.) (Sorry, this maybe was discussed already. I’m catching up.)
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Post by Sweetjane on Mar 12, 2019 19:34:30 GMT -6
So did Felicity and Becky know the indictment was coming? I know often the wealthy/powerful are aware of investigations and can hide behind their legal team. It seems like they were totally unaware. Thoughts? soup have you read your 3 ring binder yet?
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thatgolfb
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Post by thatgolfb on Mar 12, 2019 20:01:44 GMT -6
I can't believe USD (Univ of San Diego) is one of the schools people cheated to get into. I did not get in to that school. WAITLISTED. ETA I had way higher than 1000 on my SATs too! And it was the 90s! Wtf USD? It was all those pay for play/school jerks taking your spot.
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poppet
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Post by poppet on Mar 12, 2019 20:53:55 GMT -6
So did Felicity and Becky know the indictment was coming? I know often the wealthy/powerful are aware of investigations and can hide behind their legal team. It seems like they were totally unaware. Thoughts? There's no good way to be approached by the FBI, but can you imagine being out of the country (Becky was, right?) and the FBI being all "Hey, girl. We are waiting for you. Get back over here. Do not make us come get you." And there you are, sitting at the airport with diarrhea. It would be like when you were a kid and you knew you were in trouble and had to go home. Like x10000.
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Jesslfar
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Post by Jesslfar on Mar 12, 2019 21:32:25 GMT -6
So did Felicity and Becky know the indictment was coming? I know often the wealthy/powerful are aware of investigations and can hide behind their legal team. It seems like they were totally unaware. Thoughts? There's no good way to be approached by the FBI, but can you imagine being out of the country (Becky was, right?) and the FBI being all "Hey, girl. We are waiting for you. Get back over here. Do not make us come get you." And there you are, sitting at the airport with diarrhea. It would be like when you were a kid and you knew you were in trouble and had to go home. Like x10000. She was in Canada. I assume she had been briefed by her people about what had been leaked to the media and her lawyers suggested she come home and present herself for arrest.
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brux
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Post by brux on Mar 12, 2019 21:40:15 GMT -6
The thing that stuck out the most to me in skimming the complaint was how much of the evidence laid out was based on phone conversations that happened in the last few weeks.
The lead conspirator basically called all these rich folks and said “I’m being audited. Remember the time you paid me to get your kid into college?”
And then these people just started talking.
Like this dude and what he did/could do for their kids was totally normal, not at all shady. Some people came off as downright gleeful that they found this way to get their kid into school.
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brux
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Post by brux on Mar 12, 2019 21:43:08 GMT -6
Felicity seemed to want to pay to have her daughter take the SAT twice, so that the daughter thought she boosted her own scores.
Like this woman laid out an elaborate plan to ensure he daughter thought she got into college by some stroke of luck.
That says a whole lot about the character of these people. Worried more about their kids’ egos than actual factual right and wrong.
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McBenny
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Post by McBenny on Mar 12, 2019 21:57:22 GMT -6
I got a 32 on my ACT. No one even took it in New England in those days but my college counselor (the one we paid $$$$$ money for) told me that people in other parts of the country take it more frequently and it’s a better measure of actual intelligence versus ability to take a test. So I took it totally blind and killed it. Used it to get myself into schools and didn’t even submit my SAT scores I am annoyed that this private college counselor didn’t just suggest to my parents to buy the best score and save me all this trouble. I need a refund. You know, I am now convinced that all college counselors encouraged people to take the ACT on the premise that "people in other parts of the country take it more frequently." You and I were in opposite ends of the country, I believe, and we were both told that. Barely anyone took it at my high school other than me. Maybe it is middle America doing all the ACT taking? the south takes it too
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auburn
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Post by auburn on Mar 12, 2019 21:58:07 GMT -6
Here, every high school junior takes the ACT. We give it at school for free. A 33 will get you a full ride to Auburn. It used to be a 32 but they recently raised it because AP kids are cut throat and will do anything for a full ride. They pay $100/hr for ACT tutors and take that test as many times as it takes. So many kids were getting 32s that Auburn raised the requirement. For some, a scholarship is a status symbol. For others, it’s a true need. It’s an upper middle class high school, but only a few of them are truly loaded. ETA: do not skin suit! random off topic- but one of the best undergrads that I ever had went to high school in Auburn. She was better than some of my grad students It’s far and away one of the best high schools in the state, which makes sense given the university’s proximity and the education professors want for their children. ETA: there are all sorts of incentives to do well on the ACT. A 30 on the English portion allows you to skip ENG 101 at most state universities. I can’t remember if it’s a 32 or 33 that allows you skip all freshmen English. So, in addition to earning a scholarship, you also have to take fewer classes and can graduate sooner, which, I did not want to do because I could already tell being an adult was going to suck.
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Cher
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Post by Cher on Mar 12, 2019 22:02:51 GMT -6
Felicity seemed to want to pay to have her daughter take the SAT twice, so that the daughter thought she boosted her own scores. Like this woman laid out an elaborate plan to ensure he daughter thought she got into college by some stroke of luck. That says a whole lot about the character of these people. Worried more about their kids’ egos than actual factual right and wrong. That said, I am kinda laughing at the “she’s so annoying with this test thing, just fix her scores so I don’t have to hear about it.” Like, damn to my own mom. She made me put words on flash cards and study like normal poor people.
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Post by truckerhat on Mar 12, 2019 23:56:31 GMT -6
Felicity seemed to want to pay to have her daughter take the SAT twice, so that the daughter thought she boosted her own scores. Like this woman laid out an elaborate plan to ensure he daughter thought she got into college by some stroke of luck. That says a whole lot about the character of these people. Worried more about their kids’ egos than actual factual right and wrong. That said, I am kinda laughing at the “she’s so annoying with this test thing, just fix her scores so I don’t have to hear about it.” Like, damn to my own mom. She made me put words on flash cards and study like normal poor people. Stupid anecdote. That woman Janavs goes to my gym lol.
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Post by truckerhat on Mar 12, 2019 23:58:12 GMT -6
The lead conspirator basically called all these rich folks and said “I’m being audited. Remember the time you paid me to get your kid into college?” And then these people just started talking. RIGHT? I would've been like "whoa whoa dude. WTTTFFFF are you talking about? You said you were going to help my kid study for these exams and coach us on how to get in, not do any dirty shit. I made those donations as true donations. WTF are you up to over there???" These people are dummies for basically admitting to their crimes when he was CLEARLY baiting them. It's like they've never watched a legal sitcom or something.
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tallb
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Post by tallb on Mar 13, 2019 4:54:27 GMT -6
Just checked the Georgetown website and this guy isn't listed as a coach. They did some fast scrubbing. “Defendant GORDON ERNST ("ERNST") was a resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland and Falmouth, Massachusetts. Until January 2018, ERNST was employed as the head coach of men's and women's tennis at Georgetown University. According to court documents, “Between 2012 and 2018, Singer paid ERNST bribes, falsely labeled as "consulting" fees, totaling more than $2.7 million. They released a statement that he left last year and was under internal investigation in 2017 due to recruiting inconsistencies. And updated the policy to audit recruited players, so they had to know something was up. Def damage control with statements going out and news crews everywhere, but pretty crappy for these schools. I find it funny that some schools aren't exactly highest caliber. Wake Forest? USD?
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Post by GhoatMonket on Mar 13, 2019 5:05:33 GMT -6
random off topic- but one of the best undergrads that I ever had went to high school in Auburn. She was better than some of my grad students It’s far and away one of the best high schools in the state, which makes sense given the university’s proximity and the education professors want for their children. ETA: there are all sorts of incentives to do well on the ACT. A 30 on the English portion allows you to skip ENG 101 at most state universities. I can’t remember if it’s a 32 or 33 that allows you skip all freshmen English. So, in addition to earning a scholarship, you also have to take fewer classes and can graduate sooner, which, I did not want to do because I could already tell being an adult was going to suck. Unless it counts as credits, that just means they have to take a different English class. Like how my math entrance test put me in MATH 104. That didn't mean I got credit for 101 and 102, or that I could skip math completely because mine required 102. I still had to take a class for the credits toward graduation. I wouldn't have had the right amount of credits otherwise. That was absolutely not a thing at my state u 20 years ago. Maybe it's newer. Maybe mine is a bunch of jerks (highly possible).
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