In some states, students as early as middle school start applying for colleges. Most states, however, make students apply for college in high school. The standard application is simple: submit SAT or Act scores, write an essay, get recommendation letters, and figure out the cost of living (dormitories, food, etc.). Many students go through this process, but sometimes their parents bribe school faculty to be admitted into their school. Mr. Gordon Ernst, a former coach for the Georgetown University tennis team, was caught accepting money from rich parents who wanted their children to go to Georgetown University. The investigation into his scheme was called Operation Varsity Blues.
Mr. Ernst got the harshest punishment in the case. Fifty others were tried in this case, and they were declared guilty. According to Rachael S. Rollins, the U.S. attorney for this case, “He put nearly $3.5 million in bribes directly into his pocket and sold close to two dozen slots at Georgetown to the highest bidder.” Mr. Ernst was charged with filing a false tax return and conspiracy to commit federal charged bribery. Mr. Ernst was first arrested in March 2019 along with four dozen other coaches, parents, and testing center officials. He pleaded guilty to giving twelve students a spot on the team between 2012 and 2018. According to the Department of Justice, Mr. Ernst failed to report the income he made while being bribed on his tax returns.
Many people, especially students, are questioning the integrity of college admissions. I understand that many would feel cheated, especially people who aren’t well off. For example, imagine you have a rich friend. Your rich friend isn’t as smart or as hardworking as you are, so naturally, you assumed that you would get into a better school than them. But your rich friend tells you that they got into an Ivy League. They explain that they were able to get in because their parents bribed the dean into letting them in. You would be mad, of course, because of how unfair the system is. Here in Marlboro, New Jersey, we don’t get the luxury of having to wait another four years until doing college admissions. Especially where I live, you must do high school admissions to get into a good high school. Getting into a good high school, according to many parents in my neighborhood who got into good high schools, was the key to success. I would be upset if I knew a friend of mine bribed her way into the country’s top high school, High Technology High School.
Link:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656877096638x497425905382837840/Ex-Georgetown%20Tennis%20Coach%20Sentenced%20in%20Admissions%20Scandal%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
Mr. Ernst got the harshest punishment in the case. Fifty others were tried in this case, and they were declared guilty. According to Rachael S. Rollins, the U.S. attorney for this case, “He put nearly $3.5 million in bribes directly into his pocket and sold close to two dozen slots at Georgetown to the highest bidder.” Mr. Ernst was charged with filing a false tax return and conspiracy to commit federal charged bribery. Mr. Ernst was first arrested in March 2019 along with four dozen other coaches, parents, and testing center officials. He pleaded guilty to giving twelve students a spot on the team between 2012 and 2018. According to the Department of Justice, Mr. Ernst failed to report the income he made while being bribed on his tax returns.
Many people, especially students, are questioning the integrity of college admissions. I understand that many would feel cheated, especially people who aren’t well off. For example, imagine you have a rich friend. Your rich friend isn’t as smart or as hardworking as you are, so naturally, you assumed that you would get into a better school than them. But your rich friend tells you that they got into an Ivy League. They explain that they were able to get in because their parents bribed the dean into letting them in. You would be mad, of course, because of how unfair the system is. Here in Marlboro, New Jersey, we don’t get the luxury of having to wait another four years until doing college admissions. Especially where I live, you must do high school admissions to get into a good high school. Getting into a good high school, according to many parents in my neighborhood who got into good high schools, was the key to success. I would be upset if I knew a friend of mine bribed her way into the country’s top high school, High Technology High School.
Link:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656877096638x497425905382837840/Ex-Georgetown%20Tennis%20Coach%20Sentenced%20in%20Admissions%20Scandal%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
