April 4, 2021
Netflix recently released a documentary called Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal. This documentary shines light on an event that took place in late 2019, where families of the rich and famous paid a man by the name of Rick Singer to get their kids into these prestigious universities. Uncovering this operation has led many parents, students, and teachers to wonder — is the college admissions process authentic? And are there any more of these devious operations at play?
This documentary has inspired me to write about the game known as College Admissions where players participate from all over the world, coming from different ethnicities, different academic backgrounds, and different advantages. However, just like video games today, there are several perks and benefits offered to only the wealthy (the ones who can afford to pay for these power-ups).
I believe there are different tiers in which these students are categorized. For example, the first tier is the children of the wealthy, the ones who can afford private tutors, tuition for private schools, and in some cases, are able to donate buildings to universities of their liking. Whether the students are legacy (relatives of alumni) or not, applicants categorized in this specific tier have a higher advantage of receiving admission at their college of choice. Simply put, these students have an abundance of resources they can use, manipulate, or sell to sway the admissions process in their favor.
In the second tier are the legacy students, students whose parents attended one of these prestigious schools and are considered notable alumni. According to the Atlantic, being a legacy can “double or even quadruple your chances of admissions.” The reason for this rough statistic is because elite colleges believe that accepting children of legacies increases the school’s chances of receiving “charitable” donations. Being a legacy applicant also shows admissions officers that you have emotional ties to their institution. Therefore, if the school were to offer admission, the chances of a legacies commitment would be much higher as opposed to that of a regular applicant. Colleges do this so they can maintain a healthy “acceptance to attendance ratio,” meaning that these schools were the top choices for most students.
The third and final tier of applicants is the “norms,” or the regular applicant. Students who do not have expendable resources, unlimited funding, or connections can be categorized into this group. These students are at the bottom of the pyramid, or in other words, they are students that get bumped out of admissions because something unethical is going on upstairs. Students in this category can range from those living in poverty, in third world countries, and those who will need financial aid to attend college. The reason this group is at a disadvantage is that colleges at the end of the day are businesses, in it to make the most money they can. It’s not only schools but other companies that facilitate the standardized testing required for applicants, such as the CollegeBoard.
The college admissions process can be a stressful time, especially for students who are pressured to get into elite schools by their parents, friends, and teachers. However, you should not feel this way. After all, it’s just a game where human emotions and other uncontrollable factors play a major role. Now, you may be asking, what do I know about college admission stress? Well, I’m also in the same boat as you, a junior/senior in high school preparing to make a decision that will shape the rest of my life. Therefore, from someone who knows what it’s like to be under this immense amount of stress, my one piece of advice to you is this: focus on the things you can control and just do your best.
