The only reason I watched this is to see just what this scandal was, since university culture (cost, hazings, greek org initiation and denouncing rituals per members' OWN testimonies and documents, negative greek org social reputations such as suspiciously exclusive and domineering networking influence and "LEGACY APPLICATIONS", sex and drug scandals, etc.) is a major muse of mine. My guilty pleasure is Lifetime/Hallmark/Ion/Reel, etc movies so by now I know to be surprised at quality and good acting. What I was looking for here was some kind of truth or enlightenment.
But at the 18th minute mark, she says she paid a guy to take her SAT's.
That's NOT the admissions scandal. At all. That doesn't make sense. You can't pay someone to take your exam, because they CAN'T take your exam.
I'm sure the admissions scandal involves paying staff right in the admissions office at the campuses. It only makes sense. I will risk my job to enroll your unqualified child or expedite their admissions process as a sort of calling first dibs to dorms and course spots and teams, clubs, etc. Therefore I will need a satisfying amount of money from you should I get caught and get fired or tried in court. And hey, some of that money can also go to the school's fund and prestige. For wealthy or connected parents, I'm sure this payment is nothing. And I'm sure this stuff happens way more than the sensational stories and movies and headlines will get you to think. Why play along with a stringent, stressful and long exam and admissions process competing with lowly randoms off of fairness alone when you can just pay your way in? Isn't that what even primary private schools do anyway? But that's just TOO risque of a story, isn't it.
So therefore this movie is pointless. Because not only is it NOT informative and thrilling, it's also poorly performed and average in everything else. Skip it.
But at the 18th minute mark, she says she paid a guy to take her SAT's.
That's NOT the admissions scandal. At all. That doesn't make sense. You can't pay someone to take your exam, because they CAN'T take your exam.
I'm sure the admissions scandal involves paying staff right in the admissions office at the campuses. It only makes sense. I will risk my job to enroll your unqualified child or expedite their admissions process as a sort of calling first dibs to dorms and course spots and teams, clubs, etc. Therefore I will need a satisfying amount of money from you should I get caught and get fired or tried in court. And hey, some of that money can also go to the school's fund and prestige. For wealthy or connected parents, I'm sure this payment is nothing. And I'm sure this stuff happens way more than the sensational stories and movies and headlines will get you to think. Why play along with a stringent, stressful and long exam and admissions process competing with lowly randoms off of fairness alone when you can just pay your way in? Isn't that what even primary private schools do anyway? But that's just TOO risque of a story, isn't it.
So therefore this movie is pointless. Because not only is it NOT informative and thrilling, it's also poorly performed and average in everything else. Skip it.