What the College Admissions Scandal Reveals About US Higher Education

Over the years, the admissions process across the board has grown more and more competitive. USC, for example, admitted just 11 percent of those who applied in 2019, which was a record low for the school. This kind of stat is similar to other universities of the same caliber.

Clearly, this kind of exclusivity puts pressure on applicants – and their parents. In fact, considering those statistics, it’s no wonder wealthy parents felt the need to pay their way into schools or that lower-income applicants feel hopeless or left out of the system.

When the news broke about the scandal in March 2019, Inside Higher Education ran a story about the ways in which wealth influences college admissions. To some degree, people have long known that big-time donors can get special treatment when their child or grandchild is heading off to university. However, it’s more than those giving millions to the school.

“At USC and at Georgetown, Stanford, and Yale Universities – others among the private universities allegedly the target of admissions bribes by wealthy parents – [students from families] in the top 1 percent exceeded those in the bottom 20 percent of family income by three to four times,” according to Insider Higher Education.

The implication of this story is that those who come from families that don’t qualify for financial aid and can afford hefty tuition have a better chance of getting in than those who cannot afford the bills outright.

While schools say they want to enroll more students from lower-income levels as part of their desire to create a more diverse campus and classrooms, they do not actually follow through.

Hope is not completely lost, however. The overwhelming majority of educators got into the business to teach people and provide them with more opportunities. Truly, they want to give those deserving a chance to better themselves, carve out fulfilling careers, and create wealth for themselves. As a result, admissions committees do take their jobs seriously and provide a chance for the most capable and interested applicants to prove themselves.

So, mom and dad’s checkbook might be able to help. But it’s not the only way to get into a good school. In the case of undergraduate admissions, the school will consider SAT and ACT standardized test scores, high school GPA, application essays and interviews, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and personal character and achievement.

Ultimately, they want to know the applicant is a good fit for the program, can handle the academic rigor, and will be a good investment of the school’s time. In other words, the admissions committee asks, “What will this applicant bring to the table as a student and later an alum?” 

When everyone faces this kind of scrutiny in an honest fashion, then the process is fair and the playing field is level.

Scrutiny can start a revolution. There’s no doubt that the college admissions scandal put the spotlight on admissions and what it really takes for kids to get into college today. Certainly, the schools are facing criticism for their lack of transparency and their willingness to turn education into a business. Still, they know that to remain relevant and vital, they will have to vindicate themselves in the eyes of the general public.

Also, they recognize diversity is key to creating a truly transformative experience and one that will help graduates succeed well into the future. Combined with a desire to do better as educators and overcome this public relations nightmare, the need for diversity will lead to formative changes in the application process. Granted, education is known for making change at a snail’s speed. But it will come. It’s on the horizon. Just wait for it. 

This article was originally published on LinkedIn.