![]() What they may not realize, however, is that no matter the promises made by those who peddle such awards, certificates, and memberships, buying these products has little to no effect on admissions and financial aid decisions. Getty ImagesĪware that their children don’t have the same opportunities as wealthy students, many middle- and working-class parents are ready and willing to purchase anything that might bolster their children’s applications. Capitalizing on the fantasy that getting into the “right” college is a surefire ticket to success, predatory businesses have exploited millions of children by encouraging them to acquire fake or low-value “honors.” Unlike the corrupt officials in the Varsity Blues scandal, though, these edu-businesses have mostly targeted middle-class students looking for a leg up with college admissions and scholarships (though, in recent years, first-generation college students and vulnerable, at-risk, and immigrant students have become frequent targets as well). Profiteers have marketed dubious awards to students, parents, and schools for decades without raising eyebrows. ![]() ![]() Hoping to boost their children’s chances for admission, some wealthy parents are willing to spend millions of dollars, whether through legal gifts to university endowments or illegal payments to consultants and university staff, as we saw in the Varsity Blues scandal.īut for all the shock and outrage that Varsity Blues has generated, the scandal shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Nowhere is that more evident than in the fierce competition to get into prestigious colleges (Lou & Griggs 2019 Steele, 2019). However, one doesn’t have to look far to realize that some students have better chances than others. We in the United States want to believe all students will be given equal educational opportunities - that impulse informs the name of such laws as the Every Student Succeeds Act. A glitzy invitation to join a “prestigious” honor society may look like a great opportunity, but these organizations’ promises are often empty.
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