By now, you may or may not be familiar with the college scandal. The scandal comes to light at a time when politics shower the country’s newspapers and social media. For this matter, the scandal is a relief from the world of politics. Nonetheless, it remains a topic of discussion that raises new concerns about college admissions, wealth, privilege and underrepresented student bodies.
Celebrities including William H. Macy (Frank Gallagher from Shameless), his wife, Felicity Huffman and actress Lori Loughlin, along with coaches and high-profile parents were found guilty of bribing elitist schools such as Yale and Stanford for their children’s admissions. According to prosecutors, parents paid approximately $15,000 to $75,000 for higher test scores, constructed false athletic statuses and used test proctors who guided their children to the correct answers. The aim of this article is not to summarize the scandal, but to spark discussions of wealth, privilege and righteous college enrollment.
Like many of my ethnic minority and white low-income friends on campus, I have found it harder to navigate a campus where most students are financially well-off. This means struggling with FAFSA application deadlines, registration fees and participating in extracurricular activities that require money. As low-income students, we are told to work hard and remain positive in a well-off campus. However, it is impossible to remain positive when one is constantly battling the financial aid office over financial holds, transcript requests and other academic fees. The college scandal debunks the positive advice we have accepted and cherished so much, specifically with the stress of applying to college.
As low-income students, a St. Lawrence experience is far beyond our wishes. As a result, the college scandal teaches all low-income students across the country a harsh lesson: if your family is wealthy enough, you can purchase your college admission without ever producing a drop of sweat over the hectic college application process.
As a Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) student, it is sickening to watch children buy their way into college when there are programs like HEOP dedicated to providing access to higher education for low-income and underrepresented students. Like myself, many of my low-income peers had little to no guidance during the application process, and yet we have maneuvered our way into institutions superior to our resources and aspirations.
The scandal also raises racial disparities, as students of color are often used as tokens for diversity requirements and promotions. The college enrollment of students of color is often questioned when race and ethnicity are viewed as a “leg up” in a predominately white institution. While this may be true for some institutions, questioning the enrollment of low-income students of color discredits our hard work and the hardships we endured to open a college acceptance letter. As such, it is ironic that a student’s admission is not questioned when a library is named after a family member who has donated money to the institution.
Nonetheless, one question remains, what exactly does the college scandal mean for low-income students? I answer, it is with great admiration and respect that I tell my low-income peers, remain positive because if there is anything that this scandal teaches us is that we are the most deserving of a college seat. In fact, the true implications of this scandal are seen in the classroom.
As lower-income students pursue higher grades to meet scholarship requirements, the drive to learn is higher than those whose parents can afford grades and admissions. As a result, low-income students gain richer academic underpinnings that will compliment professional skills needed in the post-grad world. Finally, many low-income students are first generation college students, which is by far more impressive as we lacked any academic guidance from our parents. We have made it this far and will continue to navigate a college enrollment system that is corrupt and in need of revision.