Getting a fake diagnosis - college admissions scandal

I just have to post about this. I'm sure most of you have already heard about this, but very wealthy parents have been indicted for bribing colleges to get their kids into good colleges like USC, Georgetown, Boston University, etc.

Part of the scheme was to get a fake learning disability diagnosis so that the kids could get extra time on the SAT. When that happened they had someone on the take that would sit with them and either take the test FOR them or CORRECT their answers after the kids were done taking the test.

I am UNNATURALLY FURIOUS about all of it, but especially about the parents getting a fake diagnosis so their kid, who never had any kind of diagnosis to being with, could get extra time on the test. I wish these entitled, morally bankrupt, privileged parents could spend ONE DAY, just ONE DAY dealing with what all of us deal with, the medicaiton, the calls and emails from the school, the doctors and therapy appointments, the crying after they go to sleep because you are so exhausted that you can't even see, the sitting at the table helping with homework, all of it, just all of it for ONE DAY.

It's just so offensive in so many ways.

Thanks, needed to vent.

[ScatteredMommy]

You have crystallized my thoughts eloquently. Except my thoughts have more curse words.

[Hidden in reply to ScatteredMommy]

Oh, I promise I have said some very strong curse words about this situation...

[PurpleMom11 in reply to ScatteredMommy]

Yes!! Tears coming to my eyes because of how naked the truth is here.

[Pennywink]

For sure! Like they don't already have enough advantage.

When I read that one actress's child got extra time on the SAT, I wondered if they had doctored a special needs diagnosis.

[Hidden in reply to Pennywink]

Yes, it was part of the scam...and wow there are a lot of typos in my original post, it happens when I lose my mind...

[Hidden]

It was already really hard to get those accommodations for legit reasons. How hard will it be from now on? I don't care about the sports aspect but the negative impact on special needs students infuriates me.

[Alliea79 in reply to Hidden]

Terrifying. Honest. So scared. I work for my child day in and day out with all of my heart energy and meager finances. I cry. Because I can not afford to enroll her in the school designed and run just for adhd and ld children such as her. And that I also cannot hire a lawyer or advocate to force the inadequate school system to pay. I have to digest the disservice that will destroy her now and affect her life..

[eperez18 in reply to Hidden]

I was thinking the same thing. My son was diagnosed at 7 years of age, he is 9 now, I simply cannot imagine how hard it is going to be for our children with REAL diagnosis to ask for accommodations on college entrance exams due to this misuse of the system. Furthermore, as it is, our children with legit reasons, go through a lot of obstacles at school and at home when they have to study for tests or simply doing their homework just to earn a decent grade. They are already at a disadvantaged going into it but we as parents need to lead and show them that their hard work and dedication to academics DOES pay off and there really is NO EASY “side door entrances” to their success.

[SylvieS]

It is absolutely infuriating to know that these privileged, entitled parents have been abusing the special needs provisions to cheat their children into colleges. It just will make it that much harder for kids who legitimately need the accommodations to access them.

And I suspect their kids are also often the ones abusing stimulants to get ahead on schoolwork, or selling them on the side- increasing the stigma for those who actually depend on medication to function. I dated a guy like this in college. His parents literally payed for part of a new building and somehow he got in despite not having the grades. He skipped most of his classes and snorted adderall for recreation. Meanwhile I was there on scholarship and knew to the dollar how much each hour of class cost. Needless to say our relationship didn’t last.

[555jms]

So very well said. They are entitled drones trying to buy their kids self worth and ultimately crippling them. The cat is out of the bag now. Truth always prevails ❤️

[SparklieOne00]

Exactly!! I've been fighting for help in school for my child & this just makes it that much harder.

[NanatoZ]

Ditto

[Onthemove1971]

Thank-you for posting this message so we can discuss it. I was waiting to see more fall out from this and I think it will take a while.

This scheme is so massive it is hard to believe that no one got caught doing this. I feel sorry for the many kids that struggle with the educational process which at times can fail them. General Education teachers come in many varieties and many are uneducated about ADHD and what needs to happen for children who struggle to learn daily.

A long time ago I started to think about what type of school our son should attend. In my opinion there are only a few that really understand how to assist a child that needs a different style of learning. When our son gets there we will seek a school that really focus on small project learning and really understands about children with ADHD or is known to assist them.

As far as this scandal, I am also very sad for the children who (the media said) they didn't know their parents were doing this. I am also sad that these people what to live up to the image of having a child, get into a prestige school when they are not capable of getting in on their "own two feet", because this most likely means they will really struggle to succeed.

One of the biggest part of this journey for me as a parent is accepting what our child can truly achieve and being ok with that. I just need a level playing field and that sometimes it seems so hard to achieve when the educational system is not supportive.

Hope this makes sense, I sleep well at night with how much I try to help our son, these parents might feel a little different now that they have criminal records.

Just my two cents...

[Want2BHappy3]

I understand, I have a daughter who has a learning disability, regular school gave up on her. We've gone to the government to get help for her to get a job. It took about 15 year's to get the help she needed. Hadi been Rich the help could have came sooner? And I heard that when they go out for meals the restaurants usually picks up bill even if they can pay for it themselves???