They say money can’t buy you happiness, but can it get you into your dream school? Actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are among those accused in a scandal that includes cheating on admissions tests and funneling cash payoffs to coaches to get their kids admitted to top schools through sports programs, regardless of their ability.
The Justice Department says Loughlin and her husband payed as much as $500,000 to get their daughters accepted to the University of Southern California. Her daughter, Olivia Jade Giannulli, is a famous Youtube vlogger, and has been facing a lot of heat regarding the scandal. Videos from her past have been discovered of her saying how she “doesn’t really care about school.” Felicity Huffman, famous Desperate Housewives actress, is accused of paying $15,000 to get their daughter’s SAT scores improved.
So why are these parents committing fraud, just to gain admission into prestigious colleges? IU Assistant Professor of Sociology and author of the book, Negotiating Opportunities: How the Middle Class Secures Advantages in Schools, Jessica Calarco, thinks that it comes down to the status that is attached to the reputation of the schools.