[donkey687]

The thought that 'bad' applications were ferreted out by Admissions is a little optimistic. The first student apparently opted for a 'gap' year and never reapplied. The second one applied elsewhere. The dad spent $260,000 on payments for applications that were never actually presented.

Stanford's statement said this:

"Neither student came to Stanford; one student was initially denied admission and intended to reapply but never did, and the second never completed an application."

So we know that one application reached the admissions office with phony athletic credentials and a dishonest coach's recommendation. That application was denied. Thus, in the only tainted case that came before the admissions office, the admissions system worked: the unqualified applicant was rejected. Evidently the fabricated sailing resume and the dishonest coach's endorsement were not enough to overcome the applicant's lack of qualifications.

Stanford's statement does not match the recitals (evidently from the indictment). Those are quoted above. Evidently, Student 1 decided to defer the process for a year, and during that year, chose a different school.

I am inclined to believe Stanford here.   With several schools involved I really doubt the investigators troubled themselves with specifics that were not material to the indictments. 

Simple way to think of this.  If accepted applicants are allowed to take a gap year, why would one need to reapply?  They wouldn't.

https://www.stanforddaily.com/2018/01/11...-students/

https://www.quora.com/Does-Stanford-acce...admissions

Then back to reality.  The coach/school got a fraction of the total funds.   So as a parent I learn of this scheme.  Then I agree to funnel in a mid-six figure number into the plan.  We bribe a coach and create an image of my child as a sailing expert.   We do all of that, get into Stanford and then...ah, never mind.   We will apply again next year.   That doesn't make sense.

Seems more likely that they did all of that but admissions turned them away.   Trying hard to preserve the reputation of the illegal scheme the mastermind would claim they person opted out or decided to do something else.   That person would say almost anything other than tell future clients that they may do all of this illegal stuff and your child still might not get in.

The reality is that sailing doesn't have that much pull with 1-4 recruits entering each year. The team is made up of about 50% walk-ons that weren't really recruited and didn't get any admissions pull. Each of the last two recruiting classes for sailing have been excellent with a couple of the top sailing recruits in the country. As fraudulent as Coach V was in this scandal, I assume he was ranking the nationally ranked recruits ahead of the phony recruit with admissions so it doesn't surprise me that Coach V's recommendation of the phony recruit didn't sway the admissions process.

By the way, there has been little discussion of the current sailing team members here. They have a pretty stacked team especially on the Co-Ed side and they should be in the running for top 5 finishes at nationals this spring. The skippers on that team have an impressive sailing background prior to Stanford and they will forever be tarnished by the actions of their former coach and by outsiders who will feel they gained admittance to Stanford due to improper circumstances.  It sucks for them. I will be rooting for them, and I hope that the Athletics Department doesn't punish those athletes for the actions of their former coach.

[donkey687]

The thought that 'bad' applications were ferreted out by Admissions is a little optimistic. The first student apparently opted for a 'gap' year and never reapplied. The second one applied elsewhere. The dad spent $260,000 on payments for applications that were never actually presented.

Stanford's statement said this:

"Neither student came to Stanford; one student was initially denied admission and intended to reapply but never did, and the second never completed an application."

So we know that one application reached the admissions office with phony athletic credentials and a dishonest coach's recommendation. That application was denied. Thus, in the only tainted case that came before the admissions office, the admissions system worked: the unqualified applicant was rejected. Evidently the fabricated sailing resume and the dishonest coach's endorsement were not enough to overcome the applicant's lack of qualifications.

Stanford's statement does not match the recitals (evidently from the indictment). Those are quoted above. Evidently, Student 1 decided to defer the process for a year, and during that year, chose a different school.

I am inclined to believe Stanford here.   With several schools involved I really doubt the investigators troubled themselves with specifics that were not material to the indictments. 

Simple way to think of this.  If accepted applicants are allowed to take a gap year, why would one need to reapply?  They wouldn't.

https://www.stanforddaily.com/2018/01/11...-students/

https://www.quora.com/Does-Stanford-acce...admissions

Then back to reality.  The coach/school got a fraction of the total funds.   So as a parent I learn of this scheme.  Then I agree to funnel in a mid-six figure number into the plan.  We bribe a coach and create an image of my child as a sailing expert.   We do all of that, get into Stanford and then...ah, never mind.   We will apply again next year.   That doesn't make sense.

Seems more likely that they did all of that but admissions turned them away.   Trying hard to preserve the reputation of the illegal scheme the mastermind would claim they person opted out or decided to do something else.   That person would say almost anything other than tell future clients that they may do all of this illegal stuff and your child still might not get in.

The reality is that sailing doesn't have that much pull with 1-4 recruits entering each year. The team is made up of about 50% walk-ons that weren't really recruited and didn't get any admissions pull. Each of the last two recruiting classes for sailing have been excellent with a couple of the top sailing recruits in the country. As fraudulent as Coach V was in this scandal, I assume he was ranking the nationally ranked recruits ahead of the phony recruit with admissions so it doesn't surprise me that Coach V's recommendation of the phony recruit didn't sway the admissions process.

By the way, there has been little discussion of the current sailing team members here. They have a pretty stacked team especially on the Co-Ed side and they should be in the running for top 5 finishes at nationals this spring. The skippers on that team have an impressive sailing background prior to Stanford and they will forever be tarnished by the actions of their former coach and by outsiders who will feel they gained admittance to Stanford due to improper circumstances.  It sucks for them. I will be rooting for them, and I hope that the Athletics Department doesn't punish those athletes for the actions of their former coach.