AUDIOBOOK
About
The inside story of the college admissions scandal that shocked the nation and shattered myths about meritocracy, by the reporters who broke major developments in the story that exposed a rotten system.
One morning in March 2019, America's rich and powerful woke to three hundred FBI agents at their doors. Among them were actress Felicity Huffman, designer Mossimo Giannulli, business executives and storied college coaches, with one thing in common: They'd all worked with Rick Singer. Sought after by wealthy parents as a college whisperer, Singer helped children nationwide secure spots at the schools of their dreams--for some, by any means necessary. When his scheme crumbled, more than 50 people would be criminally charged.
In Unacceptable, veteran Wall Street Journal reporters Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz trace the rise and ruin of the largest scam of its kind ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice. With unparalleled access to primary players in the case, they reveal how Singer cashed in on the ultimate status symbol: an acceptance letter at Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, or USC. They detail how the scheme exploited existing loopholes, with bribes and lies giving already privileged families an irresistible edge.
A riveting true-crime tale of greed and privilege run amok, set amid America's most exclusive enclaves, corridors of power, and prestigious institutions.
One morning in March 2019, America's rich and powerful woke to three hundred FBI agents at their doors. Among them were actress Felicity Huffman, designer Mossimo Giannulli, business executives and storied college coaches, with one thing in common: They'd all worked with Rick Singer. Sought after by wealthy parents as a college whisperer, Singer helped children nationwide secure spots at the schools of their dreams--for some, by any means necessary. When his scheme crumbled, more than 50 people would be criminally charged.
In Unacceptable, veteran Wall Street Journal reporters Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz trace the rise and ruin of the largest scam of its kind ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice. With unparalleled access to primary players in the case, they reveal how Singer cashed in on the ultimate status symbol: an acceptance letter at Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, or USC. They detail how the scheme exploited existing loopholes, with bribes and lies giving already privileged families an irresistible edge.
A riveting true-crime tale of greed and privilege run amok, set amid America's most exclusive enclaves, corridors of power, and prestigious institutions.