On the Loose: College Calls

When parents are the problem

CBSE Class XII results to be declared today — There is no denying that market forces are at play here; in a world where jobs are drying up, a degree from an elite college gives you an advantage over the competition. (Representational image)

The college admission scandal in the US has been something of a revelation to those Indian parents well-heeled enough to be seeking the same hallowed halls for their progeny. For the uninitiated, it turns out wealthy families in the US function no differently from wealthy Indians who buy seats by paying huge capitation fees for admission into engineering and medical colleges here. After news broke that rich Americans have paid millions to rig admissions at Ivy League colleges, investigations exposed the thriving industry manufacturing fake test scores, fake athletic achievements and fraudulent work experience to assist those with enough money and cunning.