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Post by pierkiss on Mar 12, 2019 16:43:11 GMT
William H. Macy (Felicity's husband) was on The Talk last week bragging about how smart his daughter's are and the college's they got into. 😂😂
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,376
Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
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Post by katybee on Mar 12, 2019 16:46:04 GMT
This just pisses me off. What’s the point? Why would you want your kid to get something they didn’t earn? What kind of message is that sending them? What kind of adult is that going to make them?
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Post by ~summer~ on Mar 12, 2019 16:47:28 GMT
I looked at the list of people involved, it looks like the Northern California people are near Palo Alto. #NotShocked.
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Post by papersilly on Mar 12, 2019 16:51:39 GMT
I assumed wealthy people got their kids into elite colleges by “donating” to the school. Honestly, $15,000 isn’t a lot of money if it gets you into Stanford! I bet some people spend that much on test prep courses and tutors for their high schoolers. yeah, $15k is nothing to bribe a Stanford acceptance. i always thought it was more in the lines of a large endowment to some department or program. if you think about the prestige a Stanford degree adds to a resume and the small percentage of acceptances vs. applications the school has, $15k seems very very low.
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Post by **Angie** on Mar 12, 2019 16:54:22 GMT
It's not difficult to fake a school id.
I'm shocked by how many are shocked by this. Lol
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Post by mom on Mar 12, 2019 16:58:02 GMT
Here is a link where you can read the court documents of how this all went down.Its at the bottom of the article. LINK
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Post by ~summer~ on Mar 12, 2019 16:58:20 GMT
This isn't just as simple as kids faking pictures and faking IDs to take the SAT. There are big law firms involved, multiple college coaches (Yale Soccer, Stanford sailing etc) and administrators at the schools and the College Board. It's a pretty big story. Some kids did not know, some parents bribed Stanford to get the kid in, then they kids decided not to go...
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,967
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Mar 12, 2019 16:58:36 GMT
My son and many of his friends were auditioning for college theater programs this year along with William H. Macy's and Felicity Huffman's oldest daughter. I think I even messaged peabay when I saw him walk through the lounge on the hotel floor we were both staying on in February. Or else I meant to message her but then thought better of it, lol! It's fascinating, infuriating and horrifying all at once. But for some of my son's female friends who were competing directly against her for one of 6 or 7 female spots in a few elite programs, it's real and personal. And for her - who likely had no idea what her parents did - it's got to be heartbreaking. Both that they didn't believe in her enough to think she could do it on her own and that any acceptances she might have earned on her own merit are now likely to be withdrawn or not forthcoming at all. Some of these programs and particularly the 3 or 4 that care about SAT scores don't notify until closer to the end of March. Anyway, this is hitting closer to home than normal because we are right in the thick of it with my son and he's already texted me about it 3 times so far this morning.
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Post by questioning on Mar 12, 2019 16:59:56 GMT
While I won’t be totally shocked if there are “dirty” SAT/ACT proctors, I do wonder how they get away with it. I’m pretty sure my son had some big hoops to jump through to prove he was the one taking the test. Don’t they check ID mutiple times and have to upload photo ID too? This should seriously put the whole SAT/ACT under some major scrutiny. Especially if someone within is changing answers. The students absolutely DO have to upload a picture of themselves: straight on, no smiling etc. My daughter just had to do it when she registered to take her SATs later this year. I'm betting they had the 'stand in' take the picture etc. and possibly provided false id to present at the exam. This stinks all the way around. They request a no expression pic, but it's not always followed. DS classmate uploaded a silly pic, a duckface with squinty eye, and no one said a thing to her. This is such a disgusting story, Can't wait to see how it evolves.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Mar 12, 2019 17:01:14 GMT
A bigger question is, if they couldn't get high enough SAT scores, how could they pass the required courses once they were admitted? Or do they just not test well on the SAT? There was a kid in my son's high school band who was a C+ student. His parents were good friends with a higher up at Cal Poly which is pretty hard to get into. She pulled strings and he was accepted. Of course he didn't last long but it always ticked me off that he took someone else's place who deserved to be there.
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Post by questioning on Mar 12, 2019 17:01:53 GMT
A bigger question is, if they couldn't get high enough SAT scores, how could they pass the required courses once they were admitted? Or do they just not test well on the SAT? There was a kid in my son's high school band who was a C+ student. His parents were good friends with a higher up at Cal Poly which is pretty hard to get into. She pulled strings and he was accepted. Of course he didn't last long but it always ticked me off that he took someone else's place who deserved to be there. Right!!!
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Post by fuji on Mar 12, 2019 17:04:49 GMT
I haven't read the details, but my guess is the "dirty" SAT/ACT proctor changed the answers after the test was administered, and all the kids left. I don't think it was a matter of a different kid taking the test, so the issue of matching the ID to the kid probably didn't come into play.
It's a paper and pencil test, so it wouldn't be difficult for a proctor/administrator to go in and erase wrong answers and bubble in correct answers in the time between collecting all the tests and mailing them to The College Board. The test is usually given on a Saturday, so after the kids leave, there would be virtually no one around to witness the changes.
That's just my guess. I have no idea how it actually happened.
ETA: I'm also guessing that there was a leak at The College Board who gave out the answers to the proctors/administrators.Otherwise the proctor would have had to take the test to get the answers.
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Post by mom on Mar 12, 2019 17:07:44 GMT
My son and many of his friends were auditioning for college theater programs this year along with William H. Macy's and Felicity Huffman's oldest daughter. I think I even messaged peabay when I saw him walk through the lounge on the hotel floor we were both staying on in February. Or else I meant to message her but then thought better of it, lol! It's fascinating, infuriating and horrifying all at once. But for some of my son's female friends who were competing directly against her for one of 6 or 7 female spots in a few elite programs, it's real and personal. And for her - who likely had no idea what her parents did - it's got to be heartbreaking. Both that they didn't believe in her enough to think she could do it on her own and that any acceptances she might have earned on her own merit are now likely to be withdrawn or not forthcoming at all. Some of these programs and particularly the 3 or 4 that care about SAT scores don't notify until closer to the end of March. Anyway, this is hitting closer to home than normal because we are right in the thick of it with my son and he's already texted me about it 3 times so far this morning. My DS2 is texting me as well. He made a 35 and on his ACT and suggested we should pay him for it, since he did the work himself. lol
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Post by canadianscrappergirl on Mar 12, 2019 17:08:36 GMT
Not surprising at all sadly
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Post by mom on Mar 12, 2019 17:08:48 GMT
I haven't read the details, but my guess is the "dirty" SAT/ACT proctor changed the answers after the test was administered, and all the kids left. I don't think it was a matter of a different kid taking the test, so the issue of matching the ID to the kid probably didn't come into play. It's a paper and pencil test, so it wouldn't be difficult for a proctor/administrator to go in and erase wrong answers and bubble in correct answers in the time between collecting all the tests and mailing them to The College Board. The test is usually given on a Saturday, so after the kids leave, there would be virtually no one around to witness the changes. That's just my guess. I have no idea how it actually happened. ETA: I'm also guessing that there was a leak at The College Board who gave out the answers to the proctors/administrators.Otherwise the proctor would have had to take the test to get the answers. Im reading some of the paperwork now, and nope. Their was a guy who actually took the test, in a hotel room, for the accused.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 28, 2024 10:51:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 17:09:30 GMT
Anyway, this is hitting closer to home than normal because we are right in the thick of it with my son and he's already texted me about it 3 times so far this morning. We're right there with you. Between this and the SAT recycling exam questions, it's disheartening for those applicants who are honest and worked their butts off to earn their achievements.
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Post by mom on Mar 12, 2019 17:10:33 GMT
The students absolutely DO have to upload a picture of themselves: straight on, no smiling etc. My daughter just had to do it when she registered to take her SATs later this year. I'm betting they had the 'stand in' take the picture etc. and possibly provided false id to present at the exam. This stinks all the way around. They request a no expression pic, but it's not always followed. DS classmate uploaded a silly pic, a duckface with squinty eye, and no one said a thing to her. This is such a disgusting story, Can't wait to see how it evolves. From what I am reading, they didn't even have to upload a pic. They had some guy sit in a hotel room and take the test for the kid. Send handwriting examples, etc. ahead of time.
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Post by fuji on Mar 12, 2019 17:11:45 GMT
I haven't read the details, but my guess is the "dirty" SAT/ACT proctor changed the answers after the test was administered, and all the kids left. I don't think it was a matter of a different kid taking the test, so the issue of matching the ID to the kid probably didn't come into play. It's a paper and pencil test, so it wouldn't be difficult for a proctor/administrator to go in and erase wrong answers and bubble in correct answers in the time between collecting all the tests and mailing them to The College Board. The test is usually given on a Saturday, so after the kids leave, there would be virtually no one around to witness the changes. That's just my guess. I have no idea how it actually happened. ETA: I'm also guessing that there was a leak at The College Board who gave out the answers to the proctors/administrators.Otherwise the proctor would have had to take the test to get the answers. Im reading some of the paperwork now, and nope. Their was a guy who actually took the test, in a hotel room, for the accused. Huh. That's crazy. So someone had to get them a copy of the test. I should have read it. Thanks for the info! Another example of privilege. Disgusting.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 28, 2024 10:51:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 17:12:48 GMT
Is anyone really shocked? Heck, I think most of us knew this happened in some way. I never knew how but knew it occurred.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Mar 12, 2019 17:13:09 GMT
And the details are pretty alarming, just how much fraud was involved. 50 parents... 25,000,000, average for each HALF million dollars..... More like 33 parents $200,000 to SIX.5 million..... to be listed as charitable deductions. They are in deep doo doo.......... Tax fraud, money laundering,.. and other stuff.. The cheating on tests though is a new wrinkle. I’m not ‘surprised’ surprised but more shocked that the test scores are still needed after the mega ‘donation’ was made. I kinda thought the mega donation was because their kids needed a bit of help getting in and the donation makes thectest scores not matter. I mean these people have the money to send thier kids to college so I was assuming that the donation was for admission. It was/is 2 separate scams. The test scores or athletes.... Singer paid others to do things, I guess he kept what he didn't pay out.... He has pleaded guilty!! A direct donation to a school is ok and often charitable. Give half million to school, kid gets in.... pretty upfront... the scams no so much!
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Post by mom on Mar 12, 2019 17:13:17 GMT
Im reading some of the paperwork now, and nope. Their was a guy who actually took the test, in a hotel room, for the accused. Huh. That's crazy. So someone had to get them a copy of the test. I should have read it. Thanks for the info! Another example of privilege. Disgusting. I skimmed the documents and it looks like the test administrator was paid ahead of time, and then the test administrator hired another guy to take the test in a hotel room by himself. He guaranteed the accused a 35.
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Post by Jennifer C on Mar 12, 2019 17:13:35 GMT
My oldest is a dual credit ap honor student with a 3.8 gpa 10th grader. Her choice school is UT Austin and Texas A&M (we are a divided family.)
She texted me when TMZ broke the news and then came to my room almost in tears cause she's more or less knocking UT off her list. She just realized, I think, that we are not rich and can't grease the wheels. I told her it was something we'd have to wait out and see. (UT is my school.)
Jennifer
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 28, 2024 10:51:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 17:16:05 GMT
My oldest is a dual credit ap honor student with a 3.8 gpa 10th grader. Her choice school is UT Austin and Texas A&M (we are a divided family.) She texted me when TMZ broke the news and then came to my room almost in tears cause she's more or less knocking UT off her list. She just realized, I think, that we are not rich and can't grease the wheels. I told her it was something we'd have to wait out and see. (UT is my school.) Jennifer
Hopefully, by the time your DD submits her applications, safeguards will be in place to ensure this doesn't happen again.
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Post by mom on Mar 12, 2019 17:16:59 GMT
The UT scam makes me so sad. In Texas, very few actually can get into there (I think you have to be a Top 7 or something?).
DS2 didn't apply to UT (thank goodness) but some of his friends did. One of them that got in is questionable on how that happened. Her dad is a Judge here so now I wonder....maybe she is totally legit but I KNOW she isn't in the Top 7 of the Class, because she is ranked behind DS2.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Mar 12, 2019 17:17:06 GMT
Turns out the Mens Tennis coach at UT-Austin, Michael Center, was in on it. He's been charged and UT has relieved him of his duties.
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
Jun 26, 2014 23:17:22 GMT
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Post by LeaP on Mar 12, 2019 17:17:11 GMT
My daughter recently took her ACT test at Beverly Hills High School. The results we delayed a month. In light of this story I suspect there was an audit. Per her experience, the proctors were more laid back there.
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Post by mom on Mar 12, 2019 17:18:14 GMT
My oldest is a dual credit ap honor student with a 3.8 gpa 10th grader. Her choice school is UT Austin and Texas A&M (we are a divided family.) She texted me when TMZ broke the news and then came to my room almost in tears cause she's more or less knocking UT off her list. She just realized, I think, that we are not rich and can't grease the wheels. I told her it was something we'd have to wait out and see. (UT is my school.) Jennifer Well, TAMU is a great school...LOL DS2 is going there in the Fall for Engineering. I do wonder how this will effect future applicants? Will UT be easier to get into with this cloud over it? Im guessing probably not.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 28, 2024 10:51:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 17:18:43 GMT
A direct donation to a school is ok and often charitable. Give half million to school, kid gets in.... pretty upfront... I think if your child doesn't meet the minimum academic requirements (GPA, test scores, etc.) for that college, then it crosses over from being a donation and turns into a bribe and should be treated as such.
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inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
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Post by inkedup on Mar 12, 2019 17:21:50 GMT
They request a no expression pic, but it's not always followed. DS classmate uploaded a silly pic, a duckface with squinty eye, and no one said a thing to her. This is such a disgusting story, Can't wait to see how it evolves. From what I am reading, they didn't even have to upload a pic. They had some guy sit in a hotel room and take the test for the kid. Send handwriting examples, etc. ahead of time. I'm not buying the fact that the students didn't know what was going on.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 28, 2024 10:51:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 17:22:19 GMT
I wonder how this plays into the paid for PSAT and SAT given to all high schoolers? PSAT for 9th, 10th, 11th and SAT for 12th. Covered by the district. Administered by the teacher.
I could easily see how one could be paid off
Shit, I had teachers in high school who passed top athletes so they could play and we could win CIF, etc. I hated that. I hated those athletes.
Heck my hubby was asked to pass a kid by the A.D. He said No!
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