Full House to Jailhouse; The Celebrity College Admissions Scandal

For many, college has become a staple of post high school life. As humanity progresses, more and more jobs require higher-level skills. As a result, a four-year bachelor’s degree has become a prerequisite for almost any job. Now, high school students have much more to worry about. With GPAs, ACTs, SATs, AP tests, extracurriculars, languages, and so much more, this generation of students have a lot of their plate. As their future may depend on these factors, one must hope that this system is equal and just. However, with Lori Loughlin and other celebrities, it seems that the GPAs, SATs, ACTs, are pointless. For them, money seemed to replace these worries. However, the U.S. Department of Justice has proved them wrong.

In early March, federal prosecutors revealed that 50 people across six states had been charged with fraud and/or conspiracy, in relation to bribing their way into high-level colleges. For example, one girl's parents paid approximately $1.2 million for her to become a star soccer recruit at Yale, even though she had never played. However, it was not just sports that were manipulated. Many people paid to manipulate college entrance exams and standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT. Of the 50 people charged, many were not just parents: they were “exam administrators, proctors, college administrators, and coaches. They paid enormous sums to guarantee their children’s admission to certain schools through the use of bribes and fake academic and athletic credentials,” said a federal attorney.

Of the 50 charged, 33 were parents, including Hollywood celebrities and prominent business leaders. Prosecutors said there could be additional indictments to come. One Hollywood celebrity who has made headlines everywhere is Lori Loughlin. She is most known for playing the character Aunt Becky on  Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995. She has also appeared intermittently on Netflix's Fuller House.

In 2019 however, she is most known for manipulating her daughter’s, Olivia Jade, college admissions. The criminal complaint against Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli includes evidence from a cooperating witness, emails, bank records and a recorded phone call with each parent. Giannulli sent Rick Singer, the mastermind of the scheme, an "action picture" of each of his daughters on ergometers, the rowing machines, according to the criminal complaint.

At the time of publication, Loughlin has pleaded not guilty, which contrasts what many have already done. However, this has caused the Department of Justice to pursue even harsher legal charges against her. While Loughlin originally faced low-level charges, she and her husband  may now face up to 20 years in prison.