Varsity Blues | Setting the Standard | 3

0:10American Scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events. Some elements, including dialogue, might be invented, but everything is based on historical research.

0:30It's late 2016 at Brentwood School in Los Angeles, California. The afternoon sun hangs low over the soccer field, throwing long shadows across the sidelines. Jane Buckingham slides a pair of designer sunglasses over her eyes and claps as her 15-year-old son, Jack, kicks the ball downfield. Over the past two decades, Buckingham has built a successful career as a self-help author. Her series The Modern Girl's Guide to Life is a bestseller, and her advice on parenting and modern living has made her a familiar face on national television. Still, no matter how busy her life becomes, she's always determined to make time for her family.

1:13Jack is the Brentwood team's goalie, and he darts out of the penalty area to intercept a pass from the other team. He gets there before the opposing forward and clears the ball. Buckingham calls out. Great job, Jack! Beside her, another mother leans in. He's a good goalie. Oh, thanks. I think he must have gotten the athletic genes from his dad, though. The whistle blows for halftime. Buckingham claps her hands. Way to go, Brentwood! Keep going! As the players jog toward their coach on the other side of the field, the mother next to Buckingham leans in again. So what schools is Jack looking at?

1:50Oh, we're not really thinking about college yet. Jack's only a sophomore. The woman blames. Really? I mean, we're aware of it, but it's still so early. Well, my youngest is a freshman, and we just hired someone. Hired someone? What do you mean? A private college counselor? I know it sounds ridiculous, but by junior year, half the good people will be booked, and then you're scrambling. Buckingham shifts her way, feeling suddenly uneasy. She's spent years advising women on modern parenting, yet standing here, it feels like she's been let into a secret that everyone else already knew. The woman smiles awkwardly.

2:27Oh, I'm sorry. I don't want to tell Jane Buckingham how to parent. No, no, please do. Apparently Jane Buckingham missed a meeting. Which counselor are you using, if you don't mind me asking? Well, there's a few we talked to, and I have their numbers here if you'd like. Yeah, thank you. That would be great. The woman pulls out her phone and scrolls through her contacts to the first name. She shows the screen to Buckingham. Now, this one, she's amazing. Her office is in Pasadena, though. A bit of a nightmare of a drive. What about the other one? Where is he based? The woman taps on her phone to pull up a second contact.

3:01Yeah, yeah, he's more flexible. He comes right to your house. Real sweetheart. Nothing's too much trouble for him. Well, that sounds more like my kind of man. Can I get his number? Oh, absolutely. Buckingham takes out her own phone and types quickly. He really does home visits? Yeah, he's very hands-on, practically becomes part of the family. Well, I'm definitely not driving across L.A. Buckingham looks down at the phone again. Rick Singer, huh? Well, thank you. I'll give him a call this evening. As the second half of the soccer game gets underway, Jane Buckingham's concerns that she's let down her son begin to ease.

3:36This is what successful parents do. They gather information, they make decisions early, and they stay competitive. But Buckingham's decision to choose Rick Singer over another college counselor will be one she will come to regret. Singer will certainly make her son's application competitive, but in time, it will stand out for all the wrong reasons.

4:00Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of American History Tellers. In our latest series, a police raid on a New York City gay bar in 1969 ignites a series of demonstrations lasting six days and marks a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ rights. Listen to American History Tellers on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm David Brown, the host of Business Wars from Audible Originals. In our new season, we track the Roomba's incredible rise as it sweeps into American homes, bringing in billions in revenue, and how the company behind it is now fighting for its life. Listen to Business Wars on Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts.

4:45From Audible Originals, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American Scandal.

5:09When Rick Singer got the call from Jane Buckingham, he wasn't starstruck. By 2016, he'd been a college counselor for more than a decade, and his client list included NFL players, Hollywood actors, and top CEOs. For many of them, Singer was a legitimate counselor, an expert on crafting the perfect college application. But to some of his clients, Singer offered more than just tutoring and admissions advice. He had an additional service that all but guaranteed acceptance to the school of choice. He called it the side door. In return for bribes of tens of thousands of dollars, coaches and administrators could falsely designate applicants as top athletes, giving academically unremarkable students a path into some of the most competitive schools in the country.

5:54But this side door was only one part of Singer's increasingly criminal operation, because when bribing coaches wasn't enough, he had another weapon at his disposal. This is Episode 3, Setting the Standard.

6:11It's late August 2017 in Los Angeles, California. 54-year-old actress Felicity Huffman sits curled into the corner of a white leather sofa with a laptop balanced on her knees. Her fingers move across its keyboard in quick bursts, pausing only occasionally while she listens. Sitting in an armchair across from her is Rick Singer. A leather folder lies open on the coffee table between them with SAT prep materials and handwritten notes spilling out of it. Singer is working with Huffman's daughter Sophia on her college application. But his assessment of Sophia's work is blunt. Her scores are just not where they need to be.

6:49And now that admission season is approaching, Sophia will have to take a standardized test. College admissions offices use these exams, typically the SAT or ACT, to help judge applicants' academic readiness. But Huffman is worried. Sophia has always struggled with tests. And despite the hours she spends on her schoolwork, her results never quite match her expectations. and that denser confidence. It all breaks Huffman's heart. Away from test booklets and answer sheets, Sophia is such a talented girl. If only she could get into a good performing arts school, Huffman is sure her daughter would blossom.

7:26But Singer explains that the school Sophia has her eye on receives thousands of applicants every year. Talent alone no longer guarantees admission, not when offices filter students by their test results before ever watching an audition tape. It's not really fair, but that's the way the system works. It's just not designed for kids like Sophia. Fortunately, Singer says he has a way to level the playing field by controlling the outcome of the SAT. Normally, students take standardized tests at their own schools or in testing centers, monitored by staff following strict procedures. But students with approved accommodations for special needs can sometimes take exams in alternative locations under different supervision arrangements.

8:10Singer has figured out a way to take advantage of that. By the summer of 2017, he has relationships with officials at two separate testing centers. Both are willing to cooperate with him in exchange for bribes. The process is simple. Singer arranges for his client to take the exam over a weekend when the testing centers are otherwise empty. He flies in a trusted tutor with expertise in standardized testing to act as proctor. What happens next varies according to the client and how much they've paid. Sometimes the proctor assists the student during the test itself. Other times, the student completes the exam normally and leaves, unaware that anything illicit is going on.

8:49But after they've left, the proctor goes through the paper, amending incorrect answers before it's submitted. Huffman notes down what Singer says and how much it will cost. But for the next six weeks, she avoids committing to Singer's proposal because she knows it's wrong. Still, as a mother, she also feels that she must do the best for her child. So she keeps her options open. So even as she puts off the final decision, Huffman allows Singer to make the initial arrangements. Sophia already has a diagnosis of ADHD. So Huffman emails the school asking them to confirm whether Sophia is eligible for extra time when she takes the test.

9:28It's one special accommodation that the school has been willing to give her in the past, although Sophia hasn't always used it. Quickly, the school replies that Sophia qualifies for double time on standardized tests, and that provision gives Sophia a legitimate reason to take the SAT away from school. Huffman confirms the arrangement with Singer, but then Sophia's school throws a wrench in the works. When the school's next email arrives, Huffman is enjoying a rare, quiet morning at home. She glances at the new email in her inbox and opens it, expecting nothing more than another administrative update.

10:02But as her eyes move down the message, the muscles in her face tighten. The school counselor explains that they are happy to accommodate Sophia's extra time requirements. They'll reserve two full days for her to complete the SAT on campus, and the counselor will personally supervise the test to ensure everything proceeds smoothly. Huffman leans back, slowly in her chair. She knows that the school is only trying to help. They believe they're easing pressure on a student with ADHD, creating a supportive environment where she can perform at her best. But without realizing it, they've spoiled the key part of Singer's plan.

10:37The arrangement depends on Sophia taking the test in a private center where Singer's corrupt proctor can work without oversight. Huffman looks back at the email again, as though rereading the lines might somehow change their meaning. They don't. So then she clicks forward and types in Singer's email address. Her fingers hover over the keyboard for a moment before she adds a brief note informing him that there's a problem. His reply arrives almost immediately, getting straight to the point, we will speak about it. Singer's message, though, does little to calm Huffman's nerves. So she picks up her phone and calls him.

11:13Huffman doesn't really know what to do. She could just accept the arrangements from the school. Perhaps the extra time will boost Sophia's performance enough. or she could keep pushing for her daughter to take the SAT in Singer's exam center and guarantee Sophia the scores she needs. For Singer, the solution is obvious. All Huffman needs to do is tell the school that she doesn't want Sophia to miss two days of classes. He's sure they won't question that. After all, it will make the school's job easier if Huffman arranges for Sophia to take the SAT independently over a weekend. But Singer says the final choice must be Huffman's.

11:47So Huffman thinks it over. Sophia genuinely has ADHD. She is entitled to extra time, and Huffman can rationalize that portion of the plan without much difficulty. The harder part is the manipulation of the score itself. That is outright fraud. Yet in her mind, removing the crushing pressure of the SAT would allow Sophia to focus on her acting, her schoolwork, and the things she truly excels at. So Huffman makes her choice, and she asks for Singer's help. Two months later, in December 2017, Sophia takes the SAT at West Hollywood College Prep. The school's director, Igor Dvorsky, arrives ahead of schedule to unlock and prepare the exam room.

12:28Also there early is Mark Riddell, a private tutor who moonlights as Singer's test proctor on weekends. Then, once the exam begins, Sophia works through the sections steadily. After several hours, she finishes the test, gathers her belongings, and then leaves the room. Her mother is waiting in the hallway, and they drive home, stopping off for ice cream as a special treat. But back at West Hollywood College Prep, Mark Riddell's job is only just beginning. He retrieves Sophia's test materials. She hasn't written her answers on the official sheet. Following Riddell's instructions, she completed the exam on a separate document.

13:05So now, using a pencil, Riddell methodically fills in the official answer grid on her behalf, but he doesn't just copy Sophia's answers. He adjusts her responses and changes incorrect selections. And when the results arrive later, Sophia is ecstatic with her score. She's achieved a 1420, nearly 400 points higher than her practice tests. To her, it's validation, proof that all her persistence and effort has paid off. Felicity Huffman celebrates with her daughter, but she knows the real reason for the dramatic improvement. Huffman has already made a$15 ,000 payment to Rick Singer's charitable foundation.

13:44On paper, this donation is for educational causes in Cambodia and the United States. In practice, portions of the funds are redirected, some to Singer himself and some to Riddell and Dvorsky, the men who facilitated the arrangement. But after all is said and done, the operation has worked perfectly. Huffman has gotten her daughter the score she needs, Singer and the others have their money, and no one is the wiser. With the process working so smoothly, Singer begins steering more of his high-paying clients toward the same service. And by April 2018, he's been working with Jane Buckingham's son, Jack, for a year.

14:20His regular sessions at the Buckinghams' home are usually followed by a game of basketball in the yard.

14:29Singer fakes a left, pivots sharply, and drives past Jack with surprising speed. Jack instinctively reaches out to steal the ball, but Singer shields it with his shoulder and spins away. Oh man, too slow. Singer powers past Jack again and banks the ball off the backboard. All right, that's game. He raises a fist in triumph before tossing the ball back to Jack. All right, man, go grab a drink. I need a minute with your mom. Jack catches the ball and heads back inside. Singer grabs a towel from the patio chair and begins wiping sweat from his forehead as he walks over to Jack's mother, Jane Buckingham.

15:04She looks up from the lifestyle magazine she's reading. I think you traveled on that last point. Oh, no, I didn't. You absolutely did. Well, then Jack should have called it. Not my fault he wasn't looking. You are way too competitive for a 58-year-old. Well, I take that as a compliment. Buckingham pours water from a pitcher into two glasses. So how did he look today? Well, he is a great kid. He is. Singer nods toward the stack of ACT prep papers sitting on the patio table. but the numbers still aren't where they need to be. He scored at the 94th percentile. Singer shrugs. For a lot of schools, that's fantastic.

15:41But for what Jack wants, Rick, his GPA is 3.3. He's worked incredibly hard this year. I know he has. He spends almost every evening with a tutor. Are you saying Southern Methodist is out of the question still? He loved his visit there. He talks about it constantly. That's why I'm telling you this now. You told us he was competitive. And he is, but being competitive is still no guarantee. Schools reject applications like Jack's every single day. For the first time in years, he's genuinely excited about something. Well, the admissions landscape has changed. Still, there may be another way to help him.

16:16What's that? I don't offer it to everyone, you understand. It's not tutoring or coaching. It's something different. What are you saying, Rick? Well, I can get his ACT score up, guaranteed. And it's foolproof, as long as everyone cooperates. cooperates. Is it fair? College admissions aren't fair, Jane. You know that. Other families use donations, athletic consultants, legacy connections. This is just another version of the same thing. Behind them, Jack emerges from the house, bouncing the basketball. He tosses it to Singer, who catches it with a grin. So what do you think, Jane? Shall I give Jack more of a chance?

16:52Buckingham is silent for a moment, and she looks from Singer to Jack and back again. All right, yeah, let's give him a shot. Rick Singer's system for cheating on standardized tests is now a well-oiled machine. The difficult part is not the logistics. It's identifying which parents can be persuaded to cross the line. Jack Buckingham's grades and ACT score are already good. And despite the impression Singer gave Jack's mother, a spot in the sports management program at Southern Methodist is far from impossible. But like many parents, Jane Buckingham does not fully understand the admissions process.

17:29She relies on Singer to interpret the system for her, and she trusts what he tells her and does what he says, even when it's increasingly clear that what he's suggesting breaks the rules.

17:53tale. And sometimes, we get to hear from survivors themselves, in their own words. On our next episode, Sujo John will tell his story of September 11, 2001. That day, he clocked into his job at the World Trade Center's North Tower. Sujo's wife, Mary, pregnant with their first child, worked just next door in the South Tower. Suddenly, an explosion rocked the building, collapsing cubicles and walls. But as Sujo and his office mates raced to escape the smoldering building, they heard another massive explosion, and Sujo realized his wife and unborn child were also in grave danger. Follow Against the Odds wherever you get your podcasts.

18:33Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of Against the Odds early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Hey, I'm Cassie DePeckel, the host of Against the Odds from Audible Originals. In each episode, we share thrilling true stories of survival, putting you in the shoes of the people who live to tell the tale. In our latest series, it's 1910 and a blizzard has stranded two trains carrying more than 100 people on an isolated stretch high up in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. The relentless snowfall has made it impossible to clear the tracks, but as snow piles up, the threat of a massive avalanche grows.

19:10The passengers and crew will have to rely on their wits and luck if they hope to escape alive. Follow Against the Odds wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of Against the Odds early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

19:39In May 2018, an incident at Brentwood School in Los Angeles leaves 17-year-old Jack Buckingham feeling annoyed. One of his classmates copies answers on a test and gets away with it, and then boasts about not being caught. The unfairness bothers Jack. He spent months grinding through schoolwork and private tutoring sessions. Seeing someone else cut corners infuriates him, and that evening he vents about it to his mother. Jane Buckingham seems to share her son's frustration, and she's uniquely positioned to do something about it. Buckingham has built an entire business around self-improvement, parenting advice, and aspirational life coaching.

20:19Her social media feeds are packed with motivational slogans and uplifting affirmations aimed at helping people become the best version of themselves. So she picks up her phone and opens Instagram. She taps out a short message in all caps. The first words are, don't cheat. She hopes that the message will hit home with the people who need to hear it. But there's a sharp irony in Buckingham's post. She might not know every detail of the plan yet, but she's already moving forward with a plot to cheat on Jack's ACT. Jack has already taken the ACT twice, but Rick Singer arranges for him to take the test once more.

20:56This time, Jack will have to travel over a thousand miles to a high school in Houston, Texas. This location is carefully chosen. The school's test administrator, Nikki Williams, is one of Singer's key collaborators. In return, for$5 ,000, she'll open the school to allow Jack to take the standardized test in near-total isolation. Singer then books a flight for his preferred test fixer, Mark Riddell. His job is straightforward. He must supervise Jack's exam, then amend the answers to make sure he scores higher than he did before. By now, Singer is confident enough in his system that he treats it almost like an assembly line.

21:35But things don't always go as smoothly as planned, and Jack's case quickly becomes one of the bumpiest. Only days before he's scheduled to take the ACT in Houston, Jack gets sick. He visits the doctor and comes away with a diagnosis of tonsillitis. Normally, that would be nothing to worry about. He just needs antibiotics, rest, and plenty of fluids. But Jack's situation is a little more complicated. For months, he's been suffering from severe sinus problems, and it's gotten so bad that he's scheduled for surgery a few days after he's to take the ACT. Now this bout of tonsillitis threatens to ruin everything.

22:13The doctor's orders are clear. Jack needs to take it easy, so flying to Houston is out of the question. Jane Buckingham has to break the bad news to Singer. She paces her kitchen, phone pressed tightly to one ear. Singer answers on the second ring. Jane, how are you? Hey, Rick, I'm afraid we have a problem. Oh, what happened? Well, Jack's sick. He's got tonsillitis. With his sinus issue the way it is, the doctor says he can't fly. But the test is tomorrow. I know. Can't he just push through it? Well, the doctor was very clear. No fly. Well, okay. Okay. We, yeah. I guess we can reschedule. So there's a three-week window to take the ACT, so it won't be a problem.

22:57But he's got his surgery coming up, remember? He can't fly for two weeks after that. Ah, right. This is so frustrating. Yeah, well, these things happen, I guess. If the doctor says he can't fly, then there's not much we can do. Can you cancel the proctor's flight? He may already be in the air. Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry. Jack just got sick at the worst possible time. But suddenly, an idea comes to her, and Buckingham stops pacing. Well, Rick, there's no way for Jack not to go and it still be done, I assume. What do you mean? And have Mark do it instead? Um, well, actually, maybe. It might make it easier for him because it would take less time, but I'd have to talk to Nikki, the gal who runs the school, and see what she says.